Trump blasts Europe’s wind power rollout as EU chief watches on
President reels off list of claims against industry as pro-sector EU Commission president von der Leyen listens on
Donald Trump launched one of his most outspoken attacks on the wind industry so far as one of the sector’s key champions – EU chief Ursula von der Leyen – listened on.
The US President subjected his counterpart from the European Commission to a tirade of claims about wind power, many of which have long since been debunked, as the two met at his Turnberry luxury golf course in Scotland to sign a trade agreement.
“They’re killing us. They're killing the beauty of our scenery, our valleys, our beautiful plains. And I'm not talking about airplanes. I'm talking about beautiful plains, beautiful areas in the United States,” Trump said during a press conference.
“We will not allow a windmill to be built in the United States,” he said, bemoaning the fact that Europe has them "all over the place".
Von der Leyen has introduced measures to strengthen the EU wind sector during her time as Commission president and made it clear she sees the industry as a strategic asset.
In a lengthy rant against the sector, which he labelled a "con job," Trump also claimed:
- “Almost all” wind turbines are made in China and “start to rust and rot in eight years”.
- The wind industry can’t operate without subsidies and is “the most expensive form of energy”.
- Those in favour of wind energy are “not really environmentalists. They're political hacks”.
- Offshore wind turbines are driving whales “loco, driving them crazy” in the waters off Massachusetts.
Trump also railed against the fact that he can see wind turbines on the horizon from Turnberry, one of his two golf courses in Scotland.
The US President has since the start of his latest term put the squeeze on wind and solar through executive orders and the passage of his Big Beautiful Bill, which curtails incentives for projects.
(Copyright)