White House coordinated positive spin from cabinet officials on Paris Agreement

A year after President Trump's withdrawal from the Paris climate accord, emails now reveal how tightly the administration controlled the responses of its cabinet. Just prior to Trump's announcement in the Rose Garden, the White House press office held a PR strategy conference call, in which it asked all federal agencies to draft statements for approval within 30 minutes following the call—”no exceptions.” At least nine officials, including those previously silent on climate issues, like U.S. Department of Education Secretary Betsey DeVos, issued their public responses soon after. The statements featured charged language, such as praising Trump for putting “America first” and saying the climate agreement would lead to “economic carnage," though the carnage, economic and otherwise, will come from ignoring what our carbon pollution is doing to the planet.