Politics
JUST IN: Trump Drops The Hammer On Newsom, Overturns California Law
A state-federal dispute between California and the Trump administration entered a new, high-stakes phase on Thursday when President Donald Trump instructed environmental officials to cancel nation-leading green energy policies put in place by Gov. Gavin Newsom.
The decision is a drastic blow to California, where officials have mandated that the entire state become net-zero by 2045, the most aggressive timeline in the nation. The key to achieving their goal was a ban on gas-powered cars beginning in 2035.
That state law was officially undone by President Trump with the signing of three resolutions, passed by Congress last month, that nullify state-level attempts to ban gas-powered automobiles. The bans focused on eliminating tailpipe emissions and nitrogen oxides produced by diesel trucks.
At the signing ceremony, Trump referred to Newsom’s signature law as “crazy.”
“No autopens allowed,” joked Trump, a reference to the controversy surrounding executive orders issued by former President Joe Biden.
“Lower prices, better cars, and choice,” he added. “It’s been a disaster for this country.”
WATCH:
The resolutions signed Thursday block the implementation of a California law banning the sale of medium- and heavy-duty diesel trucks while cutting the emissions from the tailpipes of those sold before 2035.
Elsewhere in his remarks, Trump expressed doubt about the ability of electric cars to become the dominant roadway mode of transportation, but he singled out Tesla, a symbolic gesture that hints he is closer to forgiving Elon Musk following his public apology on Wednesday.
“I like Tesla,” Trump said, the AP reported.
Trump also used his remarks to hammer the reliability of windmills, which he claimed are “killing the country,” and floated the possibility of getting electrocuted by an electric-powered boat if it sank versus being eaten by a shark.
“I’ll take electrocution every single day,” the president joked.
The current car market, he added, allows Americans to pick and choose what kind of car they want to buy.
“If you want to buy electric, you can buy electric,” he told reporters in the East Wing.
Bill Kent, the owner of California-based Kent Kwik convenience stores, attended the ceremony and spoke positively about the effect that Trump’s three orders would have on his business.
“What this does is it gives us freedom,” Kent said, saying he can now avoid being forced to install “infrastructure that, frankly, is extremely expensive and doesn’t give you any return.”
The Alliance for Automotive Innovation, a trade group that advocates for the automotive industry, praised Trump’s new orders.
“Everyone agreed these EV sales mandates were never achievable and wildly unrealistic,” John Bozzella, the group’s president and CEO, said in a statement.
The three orders also happen to be the latest salvo in a back-and-forth between Trump and Newsom, widely believed to be a future 2028 presidential contender. He is locked in a lawsuit over Trump’s decision to override him and request support from thousands of members of California’s National Guard.
The Los Angeles immigration riots have become a flashpoint in a broader war over the authority of the Trump administration. On Friday, a number of Democratic governors testified on Capitol Hill about the detrimental effects they say Trump’s newfound authority over the National Guard would have on their ability to provide military readiness for their residents.
The effort fell short in several moments, including when Gov. Tim Walz struggled to give a coherent answer after being challenged to explain his past statements comparing immigration officials to Nazi soldiers.
