Trump mocks climate change claims as massive ice storm nears US

US President Donald Trump took a swipe at concerns over global warming as forecasts warned of a major winter storm set to impact nearly two-thirds of the United States.

Posting on Truth Social, Trump questioned the science behind climate change as a cold wave was expected to affect around 40 states. “Record Cold Wave expected to hit 40 States. Rarely seen anything like it before. Could the Environmental Insurrectionists please explain — WHATEVER HAPPENED TO GLOBAL WARMING???” Trump wrote.

Trump has long expressed skepticism about climate change, previously calling it a “hoax” and dismissing scientific warnings as part of a “political agenda.” He withdrew the US from the Paris Climate Agreement twice — first during his initial presidency in 2020, and again at the start of his second term in 2025.

The Republican leader has continued to back fossil fuels while rolling back clean energy initiatives. His “drill, baby, drill” slogan has been used to signal support for expanded oil and gas exploration.

Meanwhile, a powerful winter storm is forecast to bring severe cold, heavy snowfall, and widespread power outages across large parts of the country. The storm is expected to affect the eastern two-thirds of the US.

More than 1,500 flights within, into, or out of the United States were delayed or cancelled on Friday ahead of the storm, including services at major airports in Dallas, Atlanta, and Oklahoma, according to flight-tracking website FlightAware.

Around 160 million people were under winter storm or extreme cold watches and warnings, with several regions facing overlapping alerts.