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With less than two weeks until Election Day, former president Donald Trump sat down with podcast host Joe Rogan for a nearly three-hour interview. Trump's resistance to offshore wind energy and what he described as "an enemy from within" among U.S. progressives were highlighted throughout the discussion, which covered everything from environmental policy to criticisms of the Biden-Harris administration.
Trump’s Environmental Stance: Wind Farms and Whale Deaths
NEW: Donald Trump says he wants to be a Whale Psychiatrist so he can help save the whales from windmills."They say that the wind drives 'em crazy. You know it's a vibration because you have those things that 50-story building.""The wind is rushing. The things are blowing.… pic.twitter.com/xBibggpdcZ
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) October 26, 2024
Trump attacked environmental measures that he says harm the U.S. economy throughout the interview. By claiming that "a cottage industry of environmentalists and lawyers" thrives on fighting enterprises like fracking, he contended that environmental lobbying impedes economic progress. Trump said, "Clean air and water are important, but U.S. economic vitality is suffering," when Rogan questioned him about striking a balance between environmental effect and economic development.
When the topic of wind energy came up, Trump and Rogan were equally opposed. Rogan expressed worry over wind farms' impact on marine species, especially whales, by calling them "pollution." "Windmills kill the birds," Trump claimed, arguing that wind turbines are bad for the ecology and marine life. Go beneath a windmill to witness a bird graveyard. Since December 2022, 18 whale fatalities had been observed along the East Coast, he continued.
Trump cited research in his speech, including one from the University of Maryland, showing that whales may become confused by low-frequency noises from pile-driving. “They say that the wind drives ’em crazy,” Trump claimed, alleging that vibrations from the turbines could affect marine mammals’ health. “The whales are washing up on shore,” he continued, accusing environmentalists of ignoring these consequences.
Trump’s ‘Enemy from Within’ Rhetoric
High-profile individuals including comedian Jon Stewart and Vice President Kamala Harris criticized the former president for revisiting a previous speech that called Democrats and certain government leaders a "enemy from within." During the podcast, Trump reaffirmed this position, claiming that the phrase reflected how certain officials supposedly sabotage American interests.
“We had no problem with [North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un],” Trump stated, but insisted that domestic “bad actors” were making the country “unsuccessful.” He cited the U.S. border crisis as evidence, saying, “13,099 murderers dropped into our country over the last three years,” and referred to undocumented migrants as “rapists, drug dealers, and terrorists.” Trump expressed concern over recent reports of gang members, such as those in Tren de Aragua, occupying apartment complexes in U.S. cities, stating that this issue would likely escalate under a Harris presidency.
Policy Promises and Future Plans
Citing his dedication to the environmental health of the United States, Trump promised to ban offshore wind turbines if elected. He pledged to put domestic economic growth ahead of measures that he says jeopardize national security and the environment.