Pelosi: Trump 'dishonoring God' by withdrawing from Paris agreement

California Democrat Rep. Nancy Pelosi said at her weekly news conference Thursday that President Donald Trump was turning his back on children and dishonoring God for withdrawing the United States from the Paris climate agreement.

Trump announced on Thursday that the U.S. was pulling out of the Paris agreement, stating that it could potentially cost the U.S. 2.7 million jobs, and 440,000 manufacturing jobs by 2025. These statistics were given by the National Economics Research Associates, which Pelosi called "false."

Pelosi claimed that the Paris agreement would have created "an explosion" of green energy jobs, and keep America the preeminent country for "jobs of the future." But she did not elaborate further on how the statistics were false.

Pelosi also said that the issue of climate change is one of health, national, and personal security.

"This is a big matter of environmental justice," Pelosi said. "Lower income minority families are disproportionately vulnerable to the ravages of the climate crisis. It's a civil rights issue."

Pelosi did not go into detail about how income minority families are affected more by climate change.

Pelosi also said that Trump dishonored God and the religious community. This includes Pope Francis, who gave Trump a copy of his encyclical on environmental preservation last Wednesday.

"The Bible tells us that to minister to the needs of God's creation is an act of worship," Pelosi said. "To ignore those needs is to dishonor the God who made us, and that is just what we're doing by walking away from the accord."

Pelosi also questioned whether Trump's grandchildren will even be able to breathe air, asking “how is he ever going to explain to his grandchildren what he did to the air they breathe — assuming they breathe air?"

Pelosi also compared Trump to racist segregationists during the civil rights era, said his decision on the withdrawal from the Paris climate agreement is more reason for him to release his tax returns, said the U.S. has isolated itself from the world, and noted that we joined only Syria in rejecting the Paris agreement.

Pelosi has accused Republicans of turning their backs on God before, using the same line she had used in her weekly address. After Trump's inauguration, Pelosi said that Republicans "pray in church on Sunday, and then prey on people the rest of the week."

"And while we’re [the Democrats] doing the Lord’s work by ministering to the needs of God’s creation, [Republicans] are ignoring those needs, which is to dishonor the God who made them.”