Donald Trump lashed out at California Gov. Gavin Newsom after the Golden State inked a climate and clean energy deal with the United Kingdom.
Newsom’s announcement of the partnership, which focuses on offshore wind, emissions reductions, and other green energy initiatives, was supposed to highlight California’s role as a global climate leader. Instead, it triggered a furious response from Trump, who called the deal “inappropriate” and took the opportunity to publicly attack Newsom, labeling him a “loser” in the process.
“The U.K.’s got enough trouble without getting involved with Gavin Newscum,” Trump told Politico. “Gavin is a loser. Everything he’s touched turns to garbage. His state has gone to hell, and his environmental work is a disaster.”
From the Trump perspective, the deal is more than a policy disagreement. He sees it as a rogue act that undermines federal authority on international agreements. The former president has long framed California’s independent climate actions — from emissions standards to global partnerships — as affronts to his own domestic energy agenda.
Newsom’s office pushed back subtly, stressing that California has routinely coordinated with foreign governments on environmental programs. Subnational partnerships, the governor’s team noted, are critical for advancing climate goals when the federal government fails to lead. The UK collaboration is largely symbolic in terms of formal foreign policy, but for California, it signals continued commitment to renewable energy and emissions reductions.
Trump’s rebuke underscores the ideological divide: he has consistently promoted fossil fuels and dismissed international climate agreements, while California is actively pursuing cross-border collaboration and clean energy investment. According to analysts, Trump’s reaction is as much political theater as policy critique, designed to rally his base against a state long seen as hostile to his priorities.
This isn’t the first time California’s climate actions have drawn Trump’s ire. During his first term, the state fought federal rollbacks on vehicle emissions standards and established international alliances to push climate agendas. The UK deal is the latest flashpoint, with the former president treating the announcement as a provocation.
Despite Trump’s fury, Newsom and his team are pressing ahead. The deal with the UK sets up exchanges on clean energy technology, regulatory collaboration, and shared climate strategies. While federal law limits the enforceability of state-level international agreements, California sees the move as a moral and symbolic victory — and a statement that the state won’t wait for Washington to act.
Trump’s outburst may dominate headlines, but it does little to slow California’s climate diplomacy. If anything, the confrontation highlights the ongoing battle between a fossil-fuel-friendly former administration and a state that has made itself a global climate player.
