Biden Calls Trump “Climate Arsonist” For Inaction On Western Wildfires

At least 35 people have died in the wildfires that are consuming millions of square footage in California, Oregon, and Washington. Entire towns have been devastated, with damage in the multiple billions of dollars. And yet Donald Trump doubled down on his criticism of the states themselves, saying bad leadership from Democratic Governors caused the fires, not the global climate emergency that has only gotten worse in the four years he’s been in office.

The three Western states have seen historic wildfires that have burned faster and farther than ever before. Numerous studies in recent years have linked bigger wildfires in the U.S. to global warming from the burning of coal, oil, and gas. Record temperatures that stayed in the high 90s and low 100s only exacerbated the situation. The Democratic governors say the fires are a consequence of climate change, while the Trump administration has blamed poor forest management for the flames that have raced through the region and made the air in places like Portland, Oregon, Seattle, and San Francisco some of the worst in the world.

Trump met with California Governor Gavin Newsom and others to discuss the wildfires on Monday, once again fully displaying his ignorance of science, claiming “science doesn’t know” if the Earth is getting warmer.

"It'll start getting cooler, you just watch." – President Trump.

"I wish science agreed with you" – CA Natural Resources Secretary.

"I don't think science knows actually."- President Trump.#NBC7. pic.twitter.com/0tMvYX3IUN

— Danny Freeman (@DannyEFreeman) September 14, 2020

Joe Biden, appearing in his home state of Delaware to specific address the wildfires raging through not just the three major West Coast states, but in Colorado and Idaho as well, among others, called Trump a “climate arsonist” who will only make the situation worse should he be re-elected to another term in office.

Biden: "If you give a climate arsonist four more years in the White House, why would anyone be surprised if we have more of America ablaze? If you give a climate denier four more years in the White House, why would anyone be surprised when more of America is underwater?" pic.twitter.com/pUFhJ4AmgE

— CBS News (@CBSNews) September 14, 2020

Biden’s strong remarks stood in direct opposition to Trump’s, as usual.

Climate change is the existential challenge that will define our future as a country. Tune in as I discuss the wildfires up and down the West Coast — and how I'll tackle the climate crisis head-on and create millions of good-paying jobs: https://t.co/yMhodX8RYe

— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) September 14, 2020

Joe Biden: "Here's the deal: Hurricanes don't swerve to avoid red states or blue states. Wildfires don't skip towns that voted a certain way. The impacts of climate change don't pick and choose. That's because it's not a partisan phenomenon. It's science."

— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) September 14, 2020

Trump is in California mispronouncing "Oregon" and insisting that wildfires are caused be poor forest management pic.twitter.com/zydXDoe3DT

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) September 14, 2020

See Also

Matt Gaetz Frantically Defends His Replacement Theory Claims — Tries To Redefine The Term

Trump might have issues with how Democratic Governors are handling the emergency, but last year he displayed similar behavior while offering aid to Russia for their wildfires in Siberia instead. #ClimateArsonist was trending on Twitter on Monday as Trump’s comments spurred outrage.

Donald trump is a #ClimateArsonist.

PASS IT ON.pic.twitter.com/0rVfJHPL1U

— BrooklynDad_Defiant! (@mmpadellan) September 14, 2020

Calling trump a #ClimateArsonist has to be the best description of trump I've heard to date. Thanks, @JoeBiden.

— Mae B Someday Soon (@mspoint1106) September 14, 2020