President Trump said he was elected to represent the citizens of "Pittsburgh, not Paris," during remarks Thursday explaining his decision to withdraw the U.S. from the Paris climate agreement.
"We want fair treatment for our taxpayers," he 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."
Trump appeared to name-drop Pittsburgh because of its historic ties to the coal and manufacturing industries.
However, Democratic Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto rejected Trump's words, saying his city would follow the guidelines of the agreement to curb greenhouse gas emissions.
As the Mayor of Pittsburgh, I can assure you that we will follow the guidelines of the Paris Agreement for our people, our economy & future. https://t.co/3znXGTcd8C
— bill peduto (@billpeduto) June 1, 2017
In a lengthy address in the Rose Garden, Trump said the Paris agreement was unfair to American workers and that he wanted to negotiate a better deal. He added he wanted the U.S. to be an environmental leader in the world, but under a fair framework.
Trump's decision was met with anger by liberals and environmentalists. Former President Barack Obama released a statement criticizing Trump for the withdrawal, saying the U.S. was joining a small group of countries that "reject the future."