Longstanding Rhetoric Resurfaces at UN Gathering
Speaking before the United Nations General Assembly on September 23, 2025, former President Donald Trump dismissed climate change as “the greatest con job ever perpetrated on the world.” The declaration repeated language he has used previously, including a 2012 tweet in which he referred to climate change as a hoax. His remarks quickly drew global attention, once again putting his skepticism of climate science in the spotlight.
Research Bodies Point to Clear Warming Trend
Scientific institutions across the globe have repeatedly shown that Earth’s climate is heating. Reports from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, along with data from NASA and NOAA, demonstrate a rise of more than 1.1°C since the late 1800s. Temperature records confirm that recent years have been among the hottest observed. Independent monitors such as Berkeley Earth back these conclusions, with multiple datasets pointing to the same unmistakable pattern: sustained warming driven by human activity.
Scientists Push Back Against Trump’s Claim
Experts responded swiftly, noting that undermining climate science can weaken global efforts to respond to intensifying threats like stronger storms, sea-level rise, and prolonged heat waves. “There is no deception here—the records show unmistakable evidence of warming caused by people,” a NOAA researcher said following the speech. The Trump campaign has not offered clarification on whether his description was meant literally or rhetorically, but scientists warn that such statements have consequences for both public opinion and international climate negotiations.
