White House spokesman Sean Spicer elaborated on the decision to quit the Paris accord.
Spicer started by explaining that the president was always going to get the best deal for America.
Spicer pointed out that countries like China were “not making substantial progress in reducing their carbon footprint.”
The United States, on the other hand, was being asked and expected to make substantial sacrifices.
“I think by negotiating a better deal, hopefully we can get a better result for our country and the world,” he said.
Spicer also emphasized that President Trump campaigned on putting America first, and has been following through, “As he said yesterday, he was elected to represent Pittsburgh, not Paris.”
Finally, reporters asked Spicer about the many states and cities that were pledging to voluntarily follow the guidelines of the Paris accord.
Spicer said this was not even an issue.
“If a mayor or a governor wants to enact a policy that’s, on a range of issues, they are accountable to their own voters and that is what they should do,” Spicer said.
“We believe in states’ rights and so if a locality, municipality or state wants to enact a policy, that their voters or their concerned citizens believe in, then that’s what they should do,” he said.
