2020 presidential candidates slam Trump over withdrawal from Paris climate deal

Multiple Democratic 2020 White House candidates slammed President Trump on Monday for beginning the formal withdrawal from the Paris climate deal.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced the beginning of the yearlong process of pulling out of the Paris Agreement, which he said put an “unfair economic burden” on “American workers, businesses and taxpayers.”

{mosads}Several Democrats who hope to replace Trump took to Twitter to express their displeasure for his decision, including former Vice President Joe Biden, who called the act “shameful.”

“As the climate crisis worsens each day and California burns and Iowa floods, Trump continues to abandon science and our international leadership,” Biden tweeted.

As the climate crisis worsens each day and California burns and Iowa floods, Trump continues to abandon science and our international leadership. He just notified the United Nations of our official withdrawal from the Paris Agreement. It’s shameful. https://t.co/5UikQrsS3u

— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) November 4, 2019

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) posted two tweets in response to the announcement, one from his senator account and one from his personal account that called the president an “international embarrassment.”

Donald Trump is an international embarrassment. https://t.co/djiVjPXDCM

— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) November 4, 2019 

Secretary Pompeo, I hate to break it to you, but plunging the world in to a full-scale climate catastrophe is nothing to be proud of. https://t.co/rJlAEbLJnD

— Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) November 4, 2019

Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) also criticized the president on Twitter, saying he is “eroding confidence in the U.S. & putting us on the wrong side of history.” 

In 2017, Pres. Trump said he’d pull out of the Paris Accords. Today, he’s officially starting the process.

Climate change is an existential crisis. We can’t just act—we must lead. By withdrawing, Trump is eroding confidence in the U.S. & putting us on the wrong side of history. https://t.co/idF68XntiN

— Sen. Cory Booker (@SenBooker) November 4, 2019

Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) pledged to recommit to the Paris climate accord on her first day as president.

On my first day as President I’m getting us back into the international climate change agreement. https://t.co/bd7udbtAqo

— Amy Klobuchar (@amyklobuchar) November 4, 2019

Montana Gov. Steve Bullock made the same pledge and condemned Trump for “putting polluters above people.”

Trump is putting polluters above people. This is the wrong move. When I’m President, we’re rejoining the Paris agreement. Day 1. https://t.co/WbBzdVS6Vh

— Steve Bullock (@GovernorBullock) November 4, 2019

South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg told MSNBC on Monday that the U.S. cannot solve the climate problem without international assistance, and the world cannot solve it without American help. 

“Paris should be viewed as a floor, not a ceiling,” he said. 

This afternoon, this president formally began America’s withdrawal from the #ParisAgreement, a year-long process for a catastrophic decision that could affect our country—and the world—for generations.

This morning, @PeteButtigieg weighed in on the expected announcement. Watch: pic.twitter.com/00eLdQ9kMm

— Team Pete HQ (@PeteForAmerica) November 4, 2019

Trump announced in 2017 the U.S. would leave the Paris climate agreement, which is signed by every other country in the world.