President Donald Trump has spent years criticizing wind turbines, calling them unsightly, expensive, and harmful to wildlife while arguing they should be replaced by fossil fuels and other energy sources.
His opposition resurfaced Monday during remarks in the Oval Office, where he again criticized “windmills” while discussing Europe’s economic challenges, continuing a theme that has become one of the most consistent features of his public rhetoric.
Trump’s stance has evolved from a fight over an offshore wind farm near one of his Scottish golf courses into a broader campaign against wind energy, culminating in executive actions during his second term aimed at slowing new wind projects across the United States.
White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers told Newsweek, “‘Wind energy is a costly, intermittent energy source that has proven to be unreliable in times of peak demand. President Trump is focused on unleashing reliable, affordable, and secure energy that delivers when Americans need it the most.”
The White House also directed Newsweek to several X posts from the Department of Energy, including one that stated that when a severe heatwave on July 2 and 3 pushed Mid-Atlantic regional power operator PJM to peak demand, “82% of available wind power failed. By sunset, despite still high temps, 99% of solar power also failed.” “During a recent summer heat wave across the Mid-Atlantic, coal, natural gas, and nuclear power kept the lights and air conditioners on. The most valuable energy sources show up when you need them most,” the Department added.