Trump mocks Paris Agreement after "Yellow Vest" riots
Trump continues to attack the climate change agreement, blaming it for rising fuel prices, leading to protests.
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| US President Donald Trump. Photo: Reuters |
"How did the Paris Climate Accord turn out for France? After 18 weeks of rioting by the yellow vest protesters, I guess not so good! Meanwhile, America is at the top of all lists on (protecting) the environment," US President Donald Trump posted on Twitter.TwitterMarch 16
Trump's comments came after the 18th week of "Yellow Vest" protests in Paris, France, turned violent as protesters set fire to banks and luxury stores. Riot police fired tear gas and water cannons to quell the chaos. Forty-two protesters, 17 police officers and a firefighter were injured, and nearly 240 people were arrested.
The “Yellow Vest” movement, named after the yellow protective vests that French people are required to carry in their cars, erupted in mid-November 2018. The protests initially focused on the government’s plans to raise fuel taxes but later expanded to include criticism of French President Emmanuel Macron, as well as anger over taxes and the high cost of living.
Trump took a jab at Macron in December about the "Yellow Vest" movement, saying the Paris accord was deeply flawed because it raised energy prices in responsible countries while shielding the world's biggest polluters.
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| French riot police deal with "Yellow Vest" protesters at the Arc de Triomphe on March 16. Photo:AFP |
The Paris Agreement on climate change was adopted in France by nearly 200 countries, including the United States, in December 2015. The countries agreed to cut CO2 and other emissions from burning fossil fuels to curb global temperature increases. After becoming president, Trump withdrew the United States from the agreement in June 2017.
