Donald Trump is igniting a major war on green political turf, but the fight has a surprisingly deep history and back story. At the same time, he is getting mired in local and national politics, pushing to extend the life of coal plants. His administration’s move to grant pollution exemptions has drawn widespread condemnation. Environmental groups are raising alarms as they push Congress to accelerate the adoption of cleaner energy alternatives.
Over the last few weeks, Trump has further ramped up his pro-coal rhetoric. His most recent intervention allowed one coal plant to continue operating 90 days longer, pushing its closure until November. This decision was made in direct defiance of united opposition from environmental activists. Local resident Mark Oppenhuizen expressed his anger with the extension. As he described it, “My family was on a countdown for it closing; we were so ready. He slammed the political meddling in corporate decision-making. He continued, “What are they doing putting themselves into a decision a company has made? Just cause they don’t like it politically? It’s all so stupid.
Trump has been even more consistently opposed within Republican ranks. Congressman Chip Roy, who served alongside Trump as an assistant attorney general before his congressional career, recently clashed with the former president over various issues. Their biggest clash was triggered by none other than Trump himself, when the former president opposed Roy’s plan to raise the debt ceiling last year. In reaction to this tension, Trump has called for Roy to be primaried in next year’s congressional elections.
Texas’ political landscape is becoming a cauldron. Indeed, Trump is the one who wants to buck the process. He claims he is “entitled to” five additional GOP seats in the state. His administration’s involvement in a nationwide redistricting battle has focused on countering gains made by Democrats in Texas and California. An extreme, gerrymandered map passed by Republican lawmakers would protect five more Republican congressional incumbents by 2026. Trump is sure to capitalize on this political windfall to the fullest.
In addition to these issues at home, Trump seems determined to upend the traditional US role and even the terms of international diplomacy. He later announced intentions to convene a trilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. A lot is still murky about this possible meeting. After North Korea’s Kim Jong Un and Trump’s holding of separate summits, this would now move into a bilateral format.
In spite of these ambitions, Trump has set himself apart from the pack regarding the current war in Ukraine. He unequivocally announced that he will not be personally involved in any effort to bring the war to an end. At least for now, he is withdrawing from active engagement in peace negotiations. The lack of explanation for this decision has been puzzling to many in the political world.
As these changes are playing out, California Governor Gavin Newsom put just how serious he is to fight against Trump’s influence and policies. “And we’re going to fight fire with fire,” he declared during a recent press conference. Newsom emphasized that there is a new wave of energy within the Democratic party, asserting, “This is a new Democratic party, this is a new day, this is new energy out there all across this country.”