California Governor Gavin Newsom has taken aim at President Donald Trump's plans to expand offshore oil and gas drilling off the state's coast. The move is part of a broader effort by the administration to increase domestic energy production, despite warnings from scientists that it will only hasten climate change.
Trump's proposal includes the sale of six offshore leases along California's coast between 2027 and 2030, as well as expanding drilling in the eastern Gulf of Mexico. Newsom has roundly rejected the plan, calling it "dead on arrival" at a recent climate summit in Brazil.
The governor's scathing response is just the latest salvo in a growing feud with Trump over environmental issues. The two have clashed on several other occasions, including the use of military troops to enforce civilian law in cities like Los Angeles and partisan gerrymandering efforts that favor Republicans.
Newsom's criticism of the offshore drilling plan has sparked widespread outrage among California environmentalists and politicians. "He's an invasive species," Newsom said of Trump. "He's a wrecking ball president." The comment was seen as a direct attack on Trump's policies, which have been widely criticized for their impact on the environment.
The move by the Trump administration to expand offshore drilling is also seen as a departure from long-held Republican support for environmental protection. The plan has sparked fears of increased pollution and damage to marine ecosystems, with many scientists warning that it will only exacerbate climate change.
With the announcement still years away, Newsom's opposition to the plan has already had an impact on the public discourse around energy production and environmental protection. It remains to be seen how the administration will respond to the governor's criticism, but one thing is clear: the battle over offshore drilling has become a defining issue in the Trump-Newsom feud.
Trump's proposal includes the sale of six offshore leases along California's coast between 2027 and 2030, as well as expanding drilling in the eastern Gulf of Mexico. Newsom has roundly rejected the plan, calling it "dead on arrival" at a recent climate summit in Brazil.
The governor's scathing response is just the latest salvo in a growing feud with Trump over environmental issues. The two have clashed on several other occasions, including the use of military troops to enforce civilian law in cities like Los Angeles and partisan gerrymandering efforts that favor Republicans.
Newsom's criticism of the offshore drilling plan has sparked widespread outrage among California environmentalists and politicians. "He's an invasive species," Newsom said of Trump. "He's a wrecking ball president." The comment was seen as a direct attack on Trump's policies, which have been widely criticized for their impact on the environment.
The move by the Trump administration to expand offshore drilling is also seen as a departure from long-held Republican support for environmental protection. The plan has sparked fears of increased pollution and damage to marine ecosystems, with many scientists warning that it will only exacerbate climate change.
With the announcement still years away, Newsom's opposition to the plan has already had an impact on the public discourse around energy production and environmental protection. It remains to be seen how the administration will respond to the governor's criticism, but one thing is clear: the battle over offshore drilling has become a defining issue in the Trump-Newsom feud.