Trump Declares Victory in ‘War on Climate Change Hoax,’ Says Bill Gates Has Admitted He Was Wrong

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday claimed vindication in his long-running criticism of climate science, seizing on remarks by billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates that global warming would not end human civilization.

“I (WE!) just won the War on the Climate Change Hoax. Bill Gates has finally admitted that he was completely WRONG on the issue,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, celebrating what he called a historic “win” against what he described as decades of “fearmongering.”

Gates, in a detailed memo published earlier this week, wrote that while climate change presents “serious” challenges, it “will not lead to humanity’s demise.” He argued that advances in technology, energy, and public health would help societies adapt to rising temperatures. “Most people will be able to live and thrive in most places on Earth for the foreseeable future,” he said.

The Microsoft co-founder also cautioned that his remarks should not be misinterpreted as denial, adding that investment in clean energy and poverty reduction remained vital to building resilience. “This doesn’t mean we should ignore the problem,” he wrote.

Trump, who has long dismissed climate change as “a hoax,” used Gates’ comments to bolster his rollback of environmental regulations since returning to the White House in January. His administration has expanded oil and gas drilling, weakened carbon emission limits, and withdrawn from several global climate pledges.

Environmental groups condemned Trump’s statement as misleading, arguing that Gates’ comments were taken out of context. “Bill Gates didn’t say climate change isn’t real — he said it’s manageable if we act,” one activist said.

Still, Trump’s post drew applause from supporters who saw it as confirmation of his stance that “American jobs come before climate hysteria.”

As the political debate reignites, experts warn that downplaying global warming could undermine long-term adaptation efforts, even as technology and innovation continue to offer hope against its most severe impacts.