Members of the Democratic Party and the media are upset that President Trump withdrew from the non-binding Paris climate accord.
The Paris climate accord is a non-binding agreement in which 195 countries pledged to combat climate change. Each country said it would develop its own plan to reduce carbon emissions. Former President Barack Obama signed the pledge on behalf of the United States and pushed forward a plan that would have the U.S. reduce 26-28 percent of carbon emissions and provide $3 billion to poorer countries to help them fight climate change.
Some in the media became infuriated after Trump announced Thursday that he would withdraw the U.S. from the agreement.
"I have such rage and sadness," said Donny Deutsch, a regular guest on MSNBC. "We just watched a dangerous little man give a very, very scary speech."
Liberal billionaire Tom Steyer even accused Trump of committing treason.
If Trump pulls the US out of the #ParisAgreement he will be committing a traitorous act of war against the American people. My statement: pic.twitter.com/Qjgxm4fELp
— Tom Steyer (@TomSteyer) May 29, 2017
Others in the media claimed that the United States gave up its status as the leader of the free world.
"I think that it really will, if it proves to be what we think it is, this is the day that the United States resigned as the leader of the free world," CNN host Fareed Zakaria said.
While criticizing Trump, some acknowledged that the agreement is non-binding, noting there are no consequences for not abiding by it.
THE AGREEMENT QUITE LITERALLY IMPOSES NOTHING!!!
— Chris Hayes (@chrislhayes) June 1, 2017
Many critics of the Paris climate accord pointed to the lack of enforcement mechanisms in the agreement that would force other countries to follow through on their commitments, adding that the United States carries too much of the burden. Trump himself said the agreement was unfair to U.S. citizens.
"We want fair treatment for our taxpayers," Trump said. "We don't want other leaders and other countries laughing at us anymore, and they won't be. They won't be. I was elected to represent the citizens of Pittsburgh, not Paris."