SCHWARZENEGGER BLASTS TRUMPS CLIMATE CHANGE REMARKS

Former California governor and Hollywood actor Arnold Schwarzenegger has rejected Donald Trump’s latest remarks on climate change, saying people should not be discouraged from taking action simply because of the president’s views.

Trump, speaking at the United Nations General Assembly ( UNGA) on Tuesday, described climate change as “the greatest con job ever perpetrated on the world,” accusing global leaders of falling for what he called a “green scam.” He went further, branding those who believe in it “stupid people.”

In response, Schwarzenegger told CNN on Wednesday—during a joint appearance with former UK prime minister Tony Blair—that dismissing climate action because of Trump’s rhetoric is “nonsense.”

“The bottom line is that he just never believed in [climate change],” Schwarzenegger said. “And to me, I said to myself, ‘okay, then I cannot really go and be on his team.’”

The former actor and bodybuilder stressed that the issue goes beyond politics.

“I’m a big believer that we have to do something about reducing pollution, and we have to do something about having people die – 7 million people a year die – and so I felt very strongly about the way I was thinking.”

Schwarzenegger acknowledged that not everyone shares his perspective but argued that Trump’s opinion should not dictate global or local action.

“What is important is that we let people know ‘okay, so that’s how our president feels. But that doesn’t mean we should stop everything,’” he said.

He further pushed back against the notion that progress is pointless without America’s leadership.

“So many people say, ‘oh my God, if America doesn’t move forward, then does it make any sense to move forward at all?’ It’s nonsense,” Schwarzenegger insisted, pointing out that U.S. states have their own environmental laws and policies regardless of federal leadership.

Trump’s broadside came despite decades of scientific evidence linking climate change to extreme weather. Last year was the hottest on record, with wildfires in California, catastrophic floods in Texas, and increasingly destructive storms across the country all tied to rising global temperatures.

Environmental experts warn that such rhetoric undermines urgent efforts to combat a crisis that is already claiming lives worldwide. A recent report by the Environmental Data & Governance Initiative revealed that Trump’s administration altered federal environmental websites 70 percent more frequently during its first 100 days than his first presidency, raising concerns about transparency and access to scientific information.

While Trump maintains he is “right about everything,” scientists continue to stress that climate change is not only real but accelerating—making Schwarzenegger’s call to keep moving forward all the more pressing.