As Florida residents are still reeling after Hurricane Milton ravaged through the state, leaving millions without power, at least 14 dead, and catastrophic flooding, a clip of Donald Trump repeating his questionable beliefs about climate change is going viral.
Back in September, while speaking about the threat of nuclear war, he dismissed the threat of climate change to a crowd of supporters in Flint, MI, saying, “When I hear these people talking about the threat of global warming, that’s the global warming you have to worry about. Not that the oceans gonna rise in 400 years an eighth of an inch.”
He continued, “And you’ll have more seafront property, right? If that happened.” The crowd roared to a cheer. “I said, isn’t that a good thing? If I have a bit more property, I have a little bit more ocean.”
This isn’t the first time he’s repeated this belief — he also made the remark during an interview with Elon Musk back in August. He’s previously called climate change a hoax manufactured by China. And as Hurricane Helene ravaged through the southeastern United States this September, killing more than 100 people, he called the climate crisis “one of the great scams of all time.”
MLIVE / Via youtube.com
In a viral stitched clip, MSNBC commentator Chris Hayes urged viewers to consider what Trump is saying. “Every time we play this clip, we just got to stop for one second,” Hayes said. “Think about that for — give it 10 seconds of your brainpower.”
He continued, “If the oceans rise, do you have more beachfront property?” He paused. “Does that make sense? If the oceans rise, do you have more beachfront or less? You have less, right.”
MSNBC / Via tiktok.com
Since the clip has made its rounds again, people are genuinely baffled.
And many are also concerned about the amount of people clapping in the back at Trump’s claims.
As others have pointed out, the coastline will shrink if the sea level continues to rise. Studies show that if you live in a blue region in the model below, your neighborhood could become partially or fully flooded. Thus, people will lose their beachfront properties and could be forced to move more inland, becoming “climate migrants.”
The Hill / National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Census and the Internal Revenue Service / RSBN / Via thehill.com
With Hurricane Milton, we have already seen what hurricanes, exacerbated by climate change, can do to people’s homes. The damage is devastating.
Scientists estimated that nearly half of the economic damage caused by Milton can be attributed to climate change.
Bradenton Herald / TNS
As this person said about a clip showing homes being buried in the sand after Hurricane Milton, I don’t think this is the beachfront property Americans envision.
Well Trump did promise people more beachfront properties when he talked about Climate Change. I don’t think this is what Americans wanted though. https://t.co/2cj41wZbOn
— Russell Foster A New Texas (@RussellFosterTX) October 10, 2024
AccuWeather / Via Twitter: @RussellFosterTX
Nor this.
“Less property if the oceans in my living room,” one person wrote.
“Helene and Milton don’t care what he thinks,” reminded another commenter. If we continue to ignore the threats — hurricanes, wildfires, tornadoes, and all — the climate crisis will continue to rage on. And as evidenced by Milton, the damage may only get more devastating.
To donate to Hurricane Milton relief efforts, visit Florida’s official private fund, the Florida Disaster Fund, here.
