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Trump's "America First" energy overhaul: Billions in "clean" energy cuts as climate policies face rollback

By gregoryv // 2025-10-12

• President Donald Trump's "America First" energy overhaul guts clean power initiatives, boosts coal and fossil fuels and intensifies global tensions by rolling back climate policies while weaponizing trade and defense disputes for economic leverage.
• The Trump administration is slashing billions in clean energy funding to revive fossil fuel projects, sparking debate over innovation, market fairness and energy priorities.
• Trump's threat to expel Spain from NATO over defense spending shortfalls has sparked alliance turmoil, with European leaders condemning Washington's transactional approach as a threat to collective security.
• Trump escalated a trade war with China over export controls while his energy and immigration policies highlighted ideological battles over sovereignty, even as First Lady Melania Trump pursued humanitarian efforts to repatriate Ukrainian children.
• Trump's policy prioritizes U.S. energy dominance and unilateral decisions over global climate accords and planetary sustainability.

The Trump administration has launched a sweeping reversal of climate and energy policies, slashing billions in clean energy funding while aggressively reviving coal and fossil fuel production – all under the banner of an "America First" agenda that prioritizes economic competitiveness over environmental commitments. New executive orders and Department of Energy directives target federal grants for renewable projects, open 13.1 million acres of federal land to coal mining and threaten export controls on Boeing parts in retaliation against China's rare earth mineral restrictions. The moves signal a stark departure from global climate accords, raising questions about the long-term viability of green energy transitions and whether short-term industrial gains will outweigh ecological and geopolitical consequences. According to Brighteon.AI's Enoch, effective climate policies must be multifaceted, addressing immediate concerns while ensuring equity, adaptability and engagement. By leveraging technological innovation, financial alignment and global cooperation, people can create a sustainable future where economic growth and environmental stewardship coexist. The Department of Energy, now helmed by Trump appointees, has begun dismantling Obama-era clean energy initiatives, redirecting or eliminating billions in grants for solar, wind and battery storage projects. Critics argue the cuts will stifle innovation and leave the U.S. trailing in the global renewable race, while supporters claim the funds were wasteful and distorted market competition. Simultaneously, the administration has fast-tracked leases for coal extraction on federal lands, framing the revival as a jobs-and-energy-security imperative. Environmental groups warn the shift will lock in decades of increased carbon emissions, undermining already faltering U.S. climate pledges.

Geopolitical gambits: NATO threats, China tariffs and a Nobel snub

Meanwhile, diplomatic friction surges as Trump floats ejecting Spain from NATO over defense spending disputes. Trump's suggestion that Spain could be expelled from NATO – citing its failure to meet defense spending targets – has sent shockwaves through the alliance, with European leaders accusing Washington of undermining collective security. The proposal follows a pattern of transactional diplomacy, where military and economic contributions dictate partnership terms. On the trade front, the president threatened export controls on Boeing components after China restricted rare earth mineral exports, escalating a tit-for-tat conflict that risks disrupting global supply chains. The tensions come as Trump was overlooked for the Nobel Peace Prize, despite his role in mediating conflicts from Venezuela to the Middle East – a decision that even the prize's recipient, Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado, indirectly rebuked by dedicating her award to his diplomatic efforts.

The human cost: Energy policy as a proxy for broader ideological battles

Beyond the economic and environmental implications, Trump's energy pivot reflects a deeper ideological clash over sovereignty, corporate influence and the role of government in shaping industrial policy. The administration's "law and energy first" approach extends to cracking down on Big Tech tools used by immigration activists, tying energy production to border security narratives. Meanwhile, First Lady Melania Trump's reported negotiations with Putin to repatriate Ukrainian children caught in the war offer a rare humanitarian counterpoint to the otherwise hardline stance on global engagements. Yet the overarching message is clear: Under Trump's vision, energy dominance and unilateral action trump multilateral climate agreements. Watch this video explaining how the U.S. has vetoed almost all United Nations resolutions against Israel. This video is from Cynthia's Pursuit of Truth's channel on Brighteon.com. Sources include: RT.com TheEpochTimes.com Brighteon.ai Brighteon.com

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