Latest news with #ParisClimateAccords
Miami Herald
12 hours ago
- Business
- Miami Herald
Elon Musk sends a surprising 4-word message after Trump tussle
It always seemed like a relationship of convenience. Despite the public declarations of a close friendship, public appearances in front of tens of thousands of people at campaign rallies, UFC events, and laudatory national interviews, Elon Musk and Donald Trump always seemed like an odd pairing. Related: Elon Musk and Donald Trump's war of words forces allies to pick side Musk served on three Trump advisory councils during his first term in office. However, after Trump announced that he was pulling America out of the Paris Climate Accords, Musk resigned in protest. Despite his presence on numerous advisory panels, Musk had never met Trump in the Oval Office until one fateful day in early 2020, right before the onset of the Covid pandemic. Trump had received notice that Musk was planning to build Tesla's next gigafactory in Mexico instead of Texas, and he invited Musk to meet with him and his team to discuss his decision. Musk reportedly called Trump "moron" behind his back during the meeting and insulted the decor of the White House. According to a second-hand telling in the Politico story, Musk compared it unfavorably to Chinese presidential palaces, saying, "I was just in China and man, their palaces just make the White House kind of look more like an outhouse." Trump was even less impressed. As he was gearing up to run for president in 2022, Trump posted a picture of that very Oval Office meeting with an extremely disparaging caption, basically calling Musk someone who wouldn't survive without government subsidies. But now that their partnership has expired, Musk, who began burning the bridge, is trying to set things right. Image source:Even after Musk began attacking the "big, beautiful bill," the White House's main legislative agenda, and Donald Trump personally, Trump's response was uncharacteristically muted. The White House comms team has gone full scorched earth in the past for much less than associating the president with convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, like Musk did. Instead, Trump has been surprisingly mature about the whole situation, writing on X, "We had a great relationship and I wish him well -- very well, actually." Musk responded to Trump's comments with a heart emoji. Early Wednesday morning, he used his words to apologize officially. "I regret some of my posts about President @realDonaldTrump last week," wrote Musk on X. "They went too far," Musk added candidly. As of Wednesday morning, the tweet had 36 million views, but it was unclear whether Trump had seen it. The president hasn't been known for being very forgiving of people who turn on him in the past, but Musk is a special case. He reportedly spent between $250 million and $300 million of his own money to get Trump elected. Last week, when he was still angry with Trump, Musk let everyone know he was pulling the strings. Trump spent the weekend telling every reporter who would listen about Musk's drug use, even reportedly saying that Musk is a "big-time drug addict." While Musk may have returned to his senses, this isn't the first time his impulsiveness has landed him in trouble. Donald Trump isn't the first person Musk has associated with pedophilia as an insult. Vernon Unsworth, a veteran cave explorer, offered to help rescue 12 boys trapped in a Thai cave in June 2018. He ended up recruiting the expert cave divers who eventually rescued the boys. Musk also tried to help with the rescue, sending a team of Tesla engineers and a small submarine to the location; however, the vessel was never used. This infuriated Musk, who got into a tweet battle with Unsworth that ended with Musk calling him a "pedo guy" in a since-deleted tweet. Unsworth sued Musk for $190 million, arguing that the tweet damaged his reputation, but Musk argued in court that the insult "pedo guy" was common in his native South Africa. The jury dismissed the claim after less than an hour of deliberation. "This verdict sends a signal, and one signal only - that you can make any accusation you want to, as vile as it may be and as untrue as it may be, and somebody can get away with it," Unsworth said at the time. Related: Elon Musk's feud with Trump is hurting an unexpected investment The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.
Perth Now
2 days ago
- Politics
- Perth Now
‘Weird:' Kean unleashes on Coalition MPs
Former NSW treasurer Matt Kean has lashed his former federal colleagues, saying they risk 'electoral oblivion' if the opposition choses to abandon bipartisan support on net zero. The Liberal state MP turned Climate Change Authority chair unleashed a series of harsh barbs at Coalition MPs, who've called for the party to dump net zero. He labelled MPs with the view as 'weird' and warned it would result in 'electoral oblivion'. Mr Kean noted the Coalition had lost seats to 'candidates and parties advocating for strong action on climate change' and urged the party to 'ignore the noisy forces advocating for fringe policies'. 'Let me say, as the former Liberal Treasurer in the largest economy in the nation, that it is a sign they are heading for electoral oblivion,' he told the ABC's Afternoon Briefing. 'The Coalition needs to reflect the mood of the Australian public which is clearly saying they want strong and decisive action on climate change in our national interest. 'There are a number of ways they can achieve that and the sooner they start talking about those policies, the sooner of our path back to electoral relevance.' Former NSW treasurer said the Coalition risked 'electoral oblivion' if it chose to abandon its commitment to net zero. NewsWire/ David Swift Credit: News Corp Australia Mr Kean, who passed NSW's state legislation to cement its net zero targets, also said the CCA was 'close' to handing down its recommendation on the highly-anticipated 2035 carbon reduction target, with the body consulting on a figure between 65 to 75 per cent. Currently Australia must reach net zero by 2050, as per the Paris Climate Accords, with Energy Minister Chris Bowen previously saying he was 'confident' Australia would reach the interim 2030 goal of reducing emissions by 43 per cent. Following the Coalition's election walloping, which has reduced the opposition to a paltry 43 seats in the lower house, National MPs and prominent members of the Liberal Party's right called for support for net zero to be dumped. WA Liberal MP Andrew Hastie said it was a 'straitjacket that I'm already getting out of', while Nationals MPs Matt Canavan and Barnaby Joyce respectively labelled it as 'ridiculous' and 'utterly untenable'. WA Liberal MP Andrew Hastie said the Coalition's commitment to net zero was a 'straitjacket'. Richard Dobson/ NewsWire Credit: News Corp Australia Former Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce has also been vocal against net zero. NewsWire/ Martin Ollman Credit: News Corp Australia Appearing after Mr Kean's segment, Liberal Flinders MP Zoe McKenzie wouldn't directly support or rule out abandoning a net zero target, saying the party was reviewing all of its election policies. However she noted that the Coalition did not prove to be electorally popular, despite keeping it pro-net zero stance. 'As you know we have seen quite clearly that we must have a deeper conversation with the Australian population around the platform of policies we took to the last election and we must understand what they wanted to see done differently,' she said.
West Australian
2 days ago
- Politics
- West Australian
Climate Change Authority chair Matt Kean lashes anti-net zero MPs as ‘weird'
Former NSW treasurer Matt Kean has lashed his former federal colleagues, saying they risk 'electoral oblivion' if the opposition choses to abandon bipartisan support on net zero. The Liberal state MP turned Climate Change Authority chair unleashed a series of harsh barbs at Coalition MPs, who've called for the party to dump net zero. He labelled MPs with the view as 'weird' and warned it would result in 'electoral oblivion'. Mr Kean noted the Coalition had lost seats to 'candidates and parties advocating for strong action on climate change' and urged the party to 'ignore the noisy forces advocating for fringe policies'. 'Let me say, as the former Liberal Treasurer in the largest economy in the nation, that it is a sign they are heading for electoral oblivion,' he told the ABC's Afternoon Briefing. 'The Coalition needs to reflect the mood of the Australian public which is clearly saying they want strong and decisive action on climate change in our national interest. 'There are a number of ways they can achieve that and the sooner they start talking about those policies, the sooner of our path back to electoral relevance.' Mr Kean, who passed NSW's state legislation to cement its net zero targets, also said the CCA was 'close' to handing down its recommendation on the highly-anticipated 2035 carbon reduction target, with the body consulting on a figure between 65 to 75 per cent. Currently Australia must reach net zero by 2050, as per the Paris Climate Accords, with Energy Minister Chris Bowen previously saying he was 'confident' Australia would reach the interim 2030 goal of reducing emissions by 43 per cent. Following the Coalition's election walloping, which has reduced the opposition to a paltry 43 seats in the lower house, National MPs and prominent members of the Liberal Party's right called for support for net zero to be dumped. WA Liberal MP Andrew Hastie said it was a 'straitjacket that I'm already getting out of', while Nationals MPs Matt Canavan and Barnaby Joyce respectively labelled it as 'ridiculous' and 'utterly untenable'. Appearing after Mr Kean's segment, Liberal Flinders MP Zoe McKenzie wouldn't directly support or rule out abandoning a net zero target, saying the party was reviewing all of its election policies. However she noted that the Coalition did not prove to be electorally popular, despite keeping it pro-net zero stance. 'As you know we have seen quite clearly that we must have a deeper conversation with the Australian population around the platform of policies we took to the last election and we must understand what they wanted to see done differently,' she said.
ITV News
3 days ago
- Politics
- ITV News
UN Ocean Conference: America's absence felt as world gathers to discuss climate
Ahead of the conference's opening, Prince William called for more action to protect the ocean, which he said was a "diminishing resource" It is in many ways a painful irony that in the year of the 10th anniversary of the historic United Nations Climate Change Conference - which in the following year 2016, led to the Paris Climate Accords - the UN is holding another landmark meeting in France to address the continuing damage to our planet's health. It is painfully ironic because ten years ago, virtually the whole world, 195 countries, came together to talk, negotiate and agree to some fundamental commitments to reduce the harm humans were doing to the planet. For one thing, it brought together the US, China and Russia as signatories. The idea today that those three countries would come together to lead the world in a common global endeavour, aimed at something beyond their own vital interests, is hard to imagine. So much has changed since the high-water mark of the Paris Climate Accords - the US, for one, pulled out of those commitments. Yet ten years later, thousands of delegates and around 50 world leaders and representatives from around 100 nations began five days of similarly detailed, complex and long-negotiated terms and commitments. However this time, it is focused not so much solely on limiting global warming, but on focusing on how one part of our planet is in many ways the key to what happens to us all - the health of the world's oceans. The Earth, after all, is 70% water. It is why the third United Nations Ocean Conference in the southern French coastal city of Nice, defined by its relation and position on the Mediterranean, campaigners are calling for this to be the "Paris conference of the Seas". Speaking on the eve of the start of the UN Conference, Prince William said: "The truth is that healthy oceans are essential to all life on earth. "They generate half of the world's oxygen, regulate our climate and provide food for more than three billion people." But the Prince said, despite all the challenges, he was still an optimist - because he believed in the optimism of Sir David Attenborough. In front of world leaders like President Macron of France and President Lula of Brazil, Prince William quoted Sir David Attenborough 's words: "If we save the sea, we save our world." The key points of the UN Ocean Conference will be whether the so-called "High Seas Treaty" will be ratified by 60 nations. This needs to happen this year, or it will be very difficult to meet the 2030 target to protect 30% of our oceans and lands. High seas refer to international waters, which make up nearly two-thirds of our oceans. Establishing Marine Protection Areas in these waters is crucial to reaching 30% of ocean protection. Some of the fundamental statistics on the state of our oceans are sobering to say the least. Our oceans are 30% more acidic than in pre-industrial times. They absorb around 23% of annual CO2 emissions generated by human activity, and help mitigate the impacts of climate change. Yet marine pollution reached 17 million metric tons in 2021, a figure set to double or triple by 2040. Furthermore, every year, an estimated five to 12 million metric tonnes of plastic enter the ocean - nearly 90% of litter found on sea floors is single-use plastic. The atmosphere may not be as heady as the Paris Conference was in 2015, and the work and focus on the very specific aims and targets may be more focused and might not have the same sense of occasion. But they have an air of grounded realism of what is politically and economically possible in a very changed geo-political world, where the challenges remain the same.
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Hindustan Times
Elon Musk and Donald Trump's feud goes public: Timeline of their tumultuous partnership
President Donald Trump and Tesla CEO Elon Musk's relationship seems to have taken a downward spiral in the past few days. The pair that once grabbed every opportunity to praise each other's work have now resorted to engaging in frequent social media spats due to a difference of opinion over Trump's new 'Big, Beautiful Bill'. The confrontation reached a peak on Thursday (June 5), after Musk's exit from the Department of Government Efficiency (DoGE). Considering the events of the past year, it may be hard to believe that Musk hasn't always been Trump's biggest fan. During Trump's first run for presidency back in 2016, Musk openly expressed his support for Democrat candidate Hillary Clinton in an interview with CNBC, labeling her environmental and economic policies 'the right ones'. "I feel a bit stronger that he is not the right guy. He doesn't seem to have the sort of character that reflects well on the United States,' Musk said of Trump at the time. Once Trump beat Clinton in the 2016 race to the White House, Musk retained ties with the federal government due to the close contractual interaction between NASA and his company SpaceX. He was also a part of several White House advisory boards such as Trump's Manufacturing Jobs Council. However, when Trump decided to withdraw from the Paris Climate Accords in 2017, Musk publicly voiced his disapproval of the decision by tweeting, 'Climate change is real. Leaving Paris is not good for America or the world.' Trump, however, felt differently and publicaly called Musk a 'great guy' during a 2020 SpaceX launch in Florida. It was in May 2022, that Musk decided to switch his allegiance from blue to red and publically declared his support of the Republican Party, calling the Democrats a 'party of division & hate'. Even though Musk decided to rally behind the GOP, it didn't automatically ensure his support for Trump as the right man for the job. He instead supported Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, a long-time rival of Trump, and even joined a Twitter livestream in May 2023 to support his campaign for the presidency. Despite a social media feud with Trump in 2022, Musk took the call to reinstate Trump's Twitter account after buying the company in October of that year. His account had previously been suspended from the platform following the US Capitol attack on January 6, 2021. This move came four days after Trump announced his third run for the presidency. It was after an assassination attempt during his election rally in Butler, Pennsylvania on July 13, that Musk first announced public support for Trump's presidency via a social media post. Trump and Musk came together on an X livestream to share their views on various political topics during which the Tesla CEO expressed a willingness to serve in government by posting a picture of him as a representative of a new department: DoGE. Musk reportedly became the largest spender in the 2024 presidential election by contributing about a quarter of a billion dollars for several Republicans' campaigns, specifically that of Trump. He was then spotted standing next to the presidential candidate in an October rally back at the Pennsylvania location of Trump's failed assassination attempt while wearing a 'Make America Great Again' cap and calling him the only candidate 'to preserve democracy in America'. One of Trump's first moves after returning to the White House was to pass an executive order that materialized DoGE into reality. Musk and former GOP presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy were now tasked with identifying and cutting down on wasteful spending and frauds in the bureaucracy. The President also attended a SpaceX 'Starship' launch in Texas during this time to express his support for Musk. January 2025 Trump gave Musk a special shoutout during his election night victory speech by calling him an 'amazing guy' and saying, 'A star is born.' As head of the DoGE, Musk took active measures to cut costs but failed to meet his target of saving up to $1 trillion during his time in office which would have helped cut down on the $36 trillion US debt and possibly circulate stimulus checks among the American population. He was soon included in the President's inner circle as a trusted advisor and regularly attended cabinet meetings or traveled aboard Air Force One. When Trump opponents protested against Musk's company, the President rolled onto the White House's South Lawn in a red Tesla to publically announce support for the car and his friend. He took to social media to applaud Musk for doing a 'FANTASTIC JOB' and said that he would buy a brand new Tesla the very next day. Due to flaking investor confidence in the Tesla CEO's ability to devote time to the company and the lapse of the 130 days for special government employees like Musk, Trump announced that his confidant would soon be leaving DoGE. 'You're invited to stay as long as you want. At some point, he wants to get back home to his cars,' said Trump during a cabinet meeting. During a May 29 CBS interview, Musk expressed his disappointment with several provisions in Trump's new public spending bill which he felt would increase the budget deficit and undermine all the work he had been trying to do at DOGE. 'I was, like, disappointed to see the massive spending bill, frankly, which increases the budget deficit, not just decrease it, and undermines the work that the DOGE team is doing,' he said. Trump gave the former DoGE head a farewell the next day as he left office by saying, 'Elon's really not leaving. He's going to be back and forth, I think, I have a feeling.' Once out of office, Musk started voicing his criticism of Trump's 'Big, Beautiful Bill' in harsher terms by labeling it a 'disgusting abomination." Trump subsequently threatened to cancel Musk's governmental subsidies and contracts. Musk clapped back by claiming that Trump would not have won the presidency without him. Musk reshared posts critical of the President on his page including one that demanded Trump's impeachment. During the spar, Trump blamed Musk's social media lash-out on his decision to end tax credits for electric vehicles. The feud reached a peak on Thursday when Musk dropped a bomb by claiming that Trump is intentionally shielding the full release of the Epstein files due to his involvement in the case.
