Trump Seizes on Gates Memo Ahead of COP30

President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social that he had “won the War on the Climate Change Hoax” after Microsoft co‑founder Bill Gates published a memo saying climate change “will not lead to humanity’s demise,” a development Trump framed as vindication. Gates’ memo, released ahead of COP30, says climate change is serious but not apocalyptic and urges a shift from doomsday rhetoric toward innovation, affordable and reliable emissions reductions, adaptation, and greater investment in health, vaccines and poverty reduction to boost resilience. He reiterated support for emissions‑cutting technologies and the Paris goals while warning against diverting scarce development funding solely to short‑term emissions targets and criticizing recent aid cuts. Trump’s post amplified his long‑standing skepticism and followed his administration’s rollbacks of green rules; it drew praise from some conservative figures and widespread media coverage. The exchange highlights a substantive debate over priorities in climate and development policy ahead of international climate talks.