Roderic O'Gorman weighs in on US election saying Donald Trump win would be 'a disaster'

Green Party leader Roderic O’Gorman has said it is “vital” that Donald Trump does not win the US Election. Voters will cast their final votes on Tuesday in the tight race between the former US President and Republican candidate Mr Trump and Democratic candidate Vice President Kamala Harris.

Polls have shown the candidates are neck-in-neck, with results in swing states that could decide the final outcome not expected until later this week.

The Irish Government, including Taoiseach Simon Harris, has continuously said that Ireland will work with whichever candidate becomes US President.

However, Mr O’Gorman, one of the three coalition leaders, has now publicly expressed his concern about the prospect of Mr Trump being re-elected, stating it would be a “disaster for the US, Ireland and the planet”.

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“During his campaign, Mr Trump has called climate change a ‘hoax’ and ‘one of the great scams of all time’,” he said.

“He also promised to scrap clean energy projects, incentives for electric cars and unleash a “drill, baby, drill” wave of oil and gas projects. The US is already the world’s biggest greenhouse gas emitter after China. It is vital that Donald Trump does not win this election.

“Tragically, the flooding in Spain has reminded all of us just what climate change means for ordinary people. The next few years will be crucial for the future of the planet. A Trump victory would be a disaster because he will encourage fossil fuel use in the US when they need to reduce use.

“It will also be a disaster because US backsliding on commitments will discourage other countries from cutting emissions.”

Mr O’Gorman also expressed concerns that Mr Trump “plans to lead another US retreat from global climate diplomacy” that will see him exit the Paris Agreement.

The Children’s Minister expressed concern that a Trump victory would “harm the prospects for the United Nations climate negotiations in Baku that begins six days after the US presidential election”.

Taoiseach Simon Harris and Tánaiste Micheál Martin, the other leaders in the three party coalition government, have refused to state whether they would prefer a Trump or Harris presidency.

Speaking in Washington last month, Mr Harris said Ireland will work with America "whatever the outcome of the election," adding that he would not appreciate American politicians weighing into an Irish election.

In an interview with the Sunday Independent last weekend, Mr Martin said Ireland will have to “adapt to whatever new situation” arises.

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