Trump Revokes California's Nation-Leading Electric Vehicle Mandate
The Trump administration has revoked California's landmark electric vehicle mandate, a move that is expected to have significant implications for the country's efforts to combat climate change.
In a surprise signing ceremony at the White House on Thursday, President Donald Trump unveiled a congressional resolution that overturns a California state rule requiring the phase-out of new gas-powered cars by 2035. The decision marks a major setback for environmental groups and California officials, who had hailed the regulation as a model for other states to follow.
California's move to restrict the sale of new gas-powered vehicles has been widely credited with inspiring a national shift towards electric vehicles, with many states now setting similar targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from transportation.
The latest ruling comes despite warnings from Trump himself about the potential negative impact on the auto industry. "We officially rescue the U.S. auto industry from destruction by terminating California's electric vehicle mandate, once and for all," he said during the signing ceremony.
However, environmentalists have expressed outrage over the decision, arguing that it is a major step back in the fight against climate change. The American Clean Energy Coalition stated, "This move will only serve to prolong our reliance on dirty fossil fuels and ultimately doom us to catastrophic climate change."
The move has also sparked tensions between Trump's administration and California Governor Gavin Newsom, with whom relations have grown increasingly heated. Just hours before the signing ceremony, Newsom announced that he would be challenging the decision in court.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk, a frequent critic of Trump's climate policies, also weighed in on Friday, saying his company would continue to push for stricter emissions regulations regardless of the ruling.
The move marks another major environmental defeat for the Trump administration and comes as many see it as part of the president's broader commitment to rolling back environmental protections under his leadership.