Donald trump presidential debate 2016 climate change hoax – Breaking News & Latest Updates 2026
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Donald Trump lied about his climate change conspiracy theory, but his tweet is still up

Hillary Clinton And Donald Trump Face Off In First Presidential Debate At Hofstra University
Hillary Clinton And Donald Trump Face Off In First Presidential Debate At Hofstra University
Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images
Adi Robertson
is a senior tech and policy editor focused on online platforms and free expression. Adi has covered virtual and augmented reality, the history of computing, and more for The Verge since 2011.

Donald Trump thinks that “the concept of global warming was created by and for the Chinese in order to make US manufacturing non-competitive.” That’s what it says in an easily discoverable November 2012 tweet, which remains posted in his feed. You might think otherwise, given a statement made in response to a claim by Hillary Clinton during tonight’s presidential debate:

“Donald thinks that climate change is a hoax perpetrated by the Chinese. I think it’s real.”

“I did not — I do not say that. I do not say that.”

But he did say that, and it’s right here:

And if you’d like to put it in context, here’s how it fits into his larger energy plan, which — again — relies on dismissing the scientific consensus on a major international crisis as a Chinese hoax:

That is all.

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