US President Donald Trump’s recent bitter criticism of the California Governor Gavin Newsom on the signing of an energy pact, a non-political environmental issue, with the British Government has triggered a political storm across the country. It was just an issue for a better environment, but Trump has made it a national issue with international ramifications.
Trump appears to be deliberately accentuating political fever generally witnessed during presidential campaigns. It is being asked whether Trump’s outbursts symptom indicates shrinking of his political clout, especially in the highly charged political environment in his country. The raising of the political fever generally indicates an election mood, but the presidential elections are due in 2028, therefore Trump’s impolite comments are being interpreted as a part of his strategy to salvage the declining political fortune of his party as well as his personal image.
With his comments against the Governor of California, Gevin Newsom, perhaps, has made him a possible Presidential nominee of the Democratic Party in 2028.
Trump has made sharp criticism of the signing of the British-California Net-Zero Pact, indeed a non-political issue. However, in the country’s political circles, it has not only become a joke and being ridiculed across America, it appears to have exposed the decline of political prospects of the ruling Republican Party. There is a general feeling that Trump’s statement betrays the growing apprehensions among the members of the ruling party regarding their dismal prospects at the next polls. The fear of losing elections appears to have gripped the Republican Party, which might not get its candidate made to the White House.
Trump’s bitter reaction against the pact on 16 February also reflects the weakening of his personal political influence on the country’s changing political mood in recent months despite the tariff drama.
In his harsh statement, Trump has not only criticised the net-zero cooperation agreement between the UK and California, but also warned Britain against partnering with California’s Democratic Party Governor, Newsom.
Interestingly, with the signing of this agreement, California has joined several other U.S. states, including Illinois, Florida, and New York for emphasizing clean energy in signing similar agreements with foreign governments in recent years. It may be noted that since 2019, New York State has been pursuing aggressive zero-carbon goals under the 2019 Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA),. It is aiming for 40 percent reduction in emissions by 2030 and at least 85% by 2050.
Trump’s Humiliation
Many consider that the victory of a Democratic Party nominee, Mamdani on four November 2025 in the keenly contested election for the coveted post of Mayor of New York has triggered a countrywide challenge to Trump’s “regressive economic and social policies” being challenged in the US in recent weeks. Mamdami is the son of Meera Nayar, a well-known film maker from New Delhi, now settled in the US. His mother is a Hindu and father a Muslim academic of Uganda, this he is the first Muslim and representative of inter-racial and interfaith marriage ever elected Mayor of New York. He won the election despite Trump’s aggressive impolite threats. Also , he is the city’s youngest mayor since 1892.
According to political observers these political developments are challenging Trump’s stress on the America First, which many consider a pro-white and pro-Christian policy for protecting the White Christian settlers in the US.
Interestingly, in spite of Washington’s non-cooperation, the New York State has already decided to invest over 28 billion US dollars in renewable projects, mandating 100 percent
zero-emission new passenger cars by 2035, and decarbonizing buildings via heat pumps in the city, which houses the UN.
Political Implications
Trump’s criticism against the UK–California Net-Zero Pact has also amused political observers across the continents. He has stated that the British decision to sign an agreement with Governor Newsom, is ’the very worst thing the UK can do.’ It includes setting up of the wind turbines at the Altamont Pass wind farm in Livermore, California. It is being widely believed that
Trump is also unhappy that the British are partnering with the state’s Democratic Party governor, who could be a Presidential nominee in 2028 polls.
The agreement, signed by Newsom and British Energy Secretary Ed Miliband in London on February 16, is intended to “accelerate the global race for clean power and tackle the climate and nature crisis” and to promote more close link the UK’s renewable-energy sector to the Californian market,
Trump has further stated that Newsom’s state has gone to hell, and his environmental work is a disaster. However, Newsom’s press team has reacted to Trump’s critical remarks with a rare caution. According to its post on X , the President was shocked to learn that “leaders can work with people other than him.”
The prospects for the British businesses in California are expected to be a showcase that before the world“ how to ”turn innovation and ambition into a big business and cooperation.
Also, Newsom, a potential Democratic presidential contender, has recently been touring Europe. Last week, he was at the Munich Security Conference; a few weeks prior, he was in Davos, Switzerland, at the World Economic Forum.
During his tour, he even told his audience that “I hope, if there’s nothing else I can communicate today: Donald Trump is temporary. He’ll be gone in three years,”
The agreement, signed by Newsom and British Energy Secretary Ed Miliband in London is intended to “accelerate the global race for clean power and tackle the climate and nature crisis” and to work to more closely link the UK’s renewable-energy sector to the Californian market.
Trump has also claimed that “His state California has gone to hell, and his environmental work is a disaster.
Newsom said that California would “continue showing the world“ how to ”turn innovation and ambition into climate action.” It is quite known that Trump has been a strong advocate of increasing U.S. energy production, with particular emphasis on oil, gas, coal, and nuclear energy. The United States officially left the Paris Agreement in January this year
Gopal Misra has been associated with national and international media. His books on journalism and geo-politics have been well-appreciated. Views are personal.
