Newsom leads U.S. climate talks at COP30 as Trump skips
Newsom signs five foreign deals Trump refused to pursue
Newsom signs five foreign deals Trump refused to pursue
COP30 ran Nov. 10-21, 2025, in Belém, Brazil — the first time the summit was held in the Amazon region. The U.S. sent no federal delegation, the first absence in 30 years. Of 193 UN member states plus the EU, all registered delegations except the U.S. at the federal level.
Governor of California
Led the U.S. subnational presence at COP30. Signed five bilateral MOUs, spoke at the ministerial closing on behalf of 14,000 subnational governments, and called Trump's absence 'an abomination.' His appearance positioned him as a leading 2028 Democratic presidential contender.

U.S. President
Directed the executive branch to skip COP30 entirely. Has called climate action a 'hoax' and, in his first term, initiated U.S. withdrawal from the Paris Agreement. In January 2026, formally withdrew from the Paris Agreement again.
U.S. Secretary of Energy
Publicly called COP30 'essentially a hoax' and 'not an honest organization.' His statements articulated the administration's rejection of the summit's scientific and policy premises.

U.S. Senator (D-RI)
The only sitting U.S. federal official who attended COP30. Had no authority to negotiate or commit the federal government to any agreement.
President of Brazil, COP30 host
Hosted COP30 in Belém and signed an MOU with California. Expressed diplomatic hope that Trump would 'eventually change his mind' about green energy while positioning Brazil as a global climate leader.
White House spokesperson
Called Newsom's COP30 appearance 'embarrassing' and described the summit as a 'climate facade,' reflecting the administration's dismissal of the event's legitimacy.
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