Payam Javan: In a town hall event in Davenport, Iowa, former President Donald Trump criticized U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry, accusing him of “destroying” the U.S. with climate policies.

Trump highlighted China’s increasing coal plant construction while Kerry advocates for reducing coal use. Trump emphasized the need for energy independence and expressed concern about the economic impact of abandoning coal. He argued that America could be “rich again” with its oil and gas resources.

Trump also dismissed concerns about traditional global warming, suggesting a focus on “nuclear global warming.”

This comes after Kerry announced U.S. participation in the “Power Past Coal Alliance” at the COP28 climate change summit, aiming to eliminate new coal-fired plants and phase out existing ones. The Biden administration aims for a carbon pollution-free power sector by 2035, with coal contributing to about 20% of U.S. electricity as of October.