Secretary of State Rex Tillerson told lawmakers Tuesday that he still supports the Paris climate accord despite President Donald Trump’s decision to eliminate the U.S.’s commitment to the non-binding deal.
“My view didn’t change,” Tillerson said at a congressional hearing on the Department of State’s budget. “My views were heard out. I respect that the president heard my views, but I respect the decision he’s taken.”
The president was “quite deliberative” when he withdrew from the deal, the former Exxon CEO told Democrat Sen. Ben Cardin of Maryland. Trump “took some time to come to his decision, particularly waiting until he had heard from European counterparts in the G7 on it,” Tillerson said.
Tillerson and White House adviser Jared Kushner were in favor of staying connected to the promise, which obligated the U.S. reduce its greenhouse gas levels 28 percent by 2030.
They eventually lost out to Environmental Protection Agency chief Scott Pruitt and Trump’s strategic adviser, Steve Bannon, who heavily lobbied the president to leave the 194-member deal. Pruitt believes nixing the accord allows the president to make permanent executive orders rolling back Obama-era climate regulations.
Tillerson, for his part, indicated in March that he would support the deal if Trump can reduce some of the objectives hammered out during the agreement. He believes staying on board the contentious climate deal could give the president leverage on diplomatic talks.
Other Trump advisers mirrored Tillerson’s position.
GOP North Dakota Rep. Kevin Cramer, the president’s senior energy adviser, for one, told reporters earlier this year that he was “impressed” with White House advisers who believe the agreement is not necessarily dead on arrival.
Follow Chris White on Facebook and Twitter
All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.