Schwarzenegger to Trump: Coal is the ‘Blockbuster Video of fuel sources’

Former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) shared a message for President Trump on Wednesday prodding him over his efforts to save the coal industry, likening it to bringing back “Blockbuster Video.”

In a video for attn: posted to Facebook, the former governor and star of the “Terminator” franchise questioned why Trump’s administration would go “back in time” to help the struggling coal industry, which he called a threat to the future of humanity.

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“It is foolish to bring back laughable, outdated technology to suit your political agenda,” Schwarzenegger, a leading advocate for action to prevent climate change says in the video.

“But your administration attempts to go back in time to rescue the coal industry, which is actually a threat to future generations,” he said. “I mean, what are you going to bring back next? Floppy disks? Fax machines? Beanie Babies? Beepers? Or Blockbuster?”

“Coal is the Blockbuster Video of fuel sources,” Schwarzenegger added. “It is on the way out.”

Schwarzenegger, a Republican and vocal supporter of the Obama-era Paris Climate Accord, has frequently attacked the Trump administration’s efforts to roll back environmental regulations and in particular the president’s plan to exit the multi-nation climate pact in 2020.

His latest video message addresses the Trump administration’s plan currently under consideration that would force power grid operators to buy electricity from coal and nuclear plants considered to be at risk of shuttering due to the increased use of cheaper natural gas and renewable electricity.

Schwarzenegger and Trump have had an ongoing feud for several years, and in 2017 the president attacked the former governor over the ratings for “Celebrity Apprentice,” the NBC reality show for which Schwarzenegger took over as host after Trump left the show.