Stephen Colbert Mocks Donald Trump’s “Clean Coal” Promise

“I know [that] sounds like an oxymoron, but so does President Trump.”


On Tuesday, President Donald Trump moved to effectively erase Barack Obama’s record on climate change, by signing an executive order to roll back federal regulations aimed at protecting the environment and curb the effects of global warming. Hours later, Late Show host Stephen Colbert took the president to task for “repealing the environment,” and specifically mocked Trump’s promise to deliver on “clean coal.”

“I know clean coal sounds like an oxymoron, but so does ‘President Trump,'” he said, prompting loud cheers from the audience.

Colbert then turned to a special guest to provide a succinct summary of the controversial order: “You are not legally required to give a hoot, so go pollute. Fuck the planet!”

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This is how change happens.

One story at a time.

This investigative reporting takes time too. Months of research. Weeks of writing, editing, and fact checking—and putting together the photography, art, video, and audio that tell the stories in a new way, illuminating new perspectives and voices.

We can afford to take our time because we don’t report to oligarchs or corporations. We report to you, and for you.

And the stakes are high. Democracy is on the defense. We’ve been exposing corruption and scandal for five decades, and this is a pivotal moment in our country’s history. Will democracy prevail? We won’t wait for time to tell—independent journalism is essential for democracy, and we’ll keep doing our part to amplify the free press.

So, we’re asking: Will you join the fight? Mother Jones has been here for 50 years, and we need your support to fuel the future of investigative journalism. Mark our 50th anniversary with a gift of any amount.

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