A GOP lawmaker rebuked President Trump after he said the U.S. could benefit from global warming in light of record low New Years Eve weather forecasts.
Rep. Carlos Curbelo (R-Fla.), co-chairman of the House Climate Solutions Caucus, tweeted Thursday that Trump’s comment was “misleading” and dismissed “dangerous risks” for the environment.
Curbelo represents a left-leaning district that voted for Hillary Clinton by a 16-point margin last November. So far, Curbelo is the lone Republican to criticize the president’s Thursday night tweet, which has drawn backlash from a number of Democrats and climate experts.
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Curbelo’s tweet was applauded Friday by environmental activists including the Citizens’ Climate Lobby, which issued a statement praising him and the Climate Solutions Caucus.
“The science is settled on climate change, and when the president issues misleading and inaccurate statements like this, it distracts us from the conversation we should be having about solving the problem,” said the group’s executive director Mark Reynolds.
“Fortunately, there are Republicans on the House Climate Solutions Caucus who recognize that climate change is a serious threat to our nation, and they’re working on solutions.”
Curbelo often sides with Democrats over his party when it comes to environmental issues. In 2016, the Environmental Defense Fund backed Curbelo’s campaign, offering him $500,000, according to the Miami Herald.
The Florida lawmaker currently holds the highest lifetime voting score of any House Republican with the League of Conservation Voters, with second place going to fellow Florida Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen.
—Updated at 5:55 p.m.