California Governor Gavin Newsom was invited to give a keynote speech at a climate summit hosted by the Vatican last week.
Newsom took advantage of the extra spotlight, going off on his many critics during the ten-minute speech. One section was dedicated to highlighting the corrupting force of oil companies and Donald Trump in “denying science” and overturning climate policies.
Calling Out Oil Companies
In the speech, Governor Newsom repeated one of his favorite lines of attack, where he accused oil companies of deceiving the American public on climate change.
“And with respect and, forgive me, if this comes off a little too harsh. It’s been said and I’ll repeat it: the polluted heart of the climate crisis are these fossil fuel companies that have been lying to us,” said Newsom. “They’ve been deceiving us. They’ve known the science. They’ve denied the science. They’ve delayed advancement.”
Trump’s Corruption
Newsom, a Democrat, would call out Republicans and Trump by name, characterizing Trump’s actions as openly corrupt.
“Former President Donald Trump, who just last week, I never thought I’d see this. I’ve heard it, but I’ve never seen it. Donald Trump, just last week, had oil executives convening, talking about his election. And he openly asked them for $1 billion to roll back the environmental progress of the Biden administration, the environmental progress that we’ve made over the course of the last half century. Open corruption,” Newsom said.
Mar-A-Lago Meeting
Governor Newsom was referring to comments made by Trump at a private dinner meeting at Mar-a-Lago where he hosted top oil executives.
News outlets, citing anonymous sources from the Washington Post, reported that in April, Trump asked for a $1 billion contribution in exchange for dismantling Joe Biden’s climate policies.
Turning Off Voters
A survey from Data for Progress released on May 20 found that six in ten voters are “concerned” about a Trump second term after hearing the Tump oil meeting news.
61% of respondents said they would “reconsider” voting for a politician who made an offer like that.
Fundraising War
The reported meeting with oil executives from Trump comes amidst previous struggles for his campaign to fundraise faster than Joe Biden.
While Biden’s campaign held the fundraising lead and still maintains a cash advantage, in April Trump’s campaign announced better numbers for the first time in 2024.
California as a Leader
Newsom used the speech to contrast the actions of oil companies and Trump with those of the state he represents, bragging constantly throughout about California’s economy and environmental achievements.
“California has exceeded its nation-leading environmental goals,” Newsom said. “We’re in the ‘how’ business, and it’s about the power of emulation, proving that we can run the fifth-largest economy, its economic engine, as we change the way we produce and consume energy.”
Ecological Sin
The Vatican summit Newsom was invited to was a major effort by Pope Francis and the Catholic Church. Francis had previously deemed the issue of climate change as an “ecological sin.”
“It is a sin against future generations and is manifested in the acts and habits of pollution and destruction of the harmony of the environment,” Francis said in 2019.
Newsom’s Faith
Newsom himself is a Catholic whose beliefs follow “the Spirit of St. Francis” which he says includes being good to others but not necessarily following religious doctrine.
Pope Francis praised Newsom for his efforts to halt the death penalty in a May 16 meeting between the two men, and according to Newsom told him, “how proud he was of the work we’re doing in California.”
Political Speakers
Newsom was one of several political speakers who were invited to the Pope’s climate summit. New York Governor Kathy Hochul and Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey were also among the attendees.
Each of these governors represents blue states, which is interesting given that US Catholics slightly lean Republican as a whole in the United States.
What Newsom Gets
Political professor David Campbell thought Newsom had much to benefit from positive attention from the Pope.
“What [Newsom’s] getting from this is the opportunity to lean into an issue that is popular on the left by associating himself with someone who has widespread appeal and can also help with ensuring that he doesn’t alienate the more religious folks within the Democratic coalition,” Campbell said.
Changing Minds
Campbell is skeptical that even though religion is being used to argue for climate change, it is unlikely to sway many Catholic conservatives on the issue.
“Research shows that people increasingly put their politics ahead of their religion,” Campbell said. “But it could lead to small changes here and there, and in American politics, it’s all about the margins.”
