US President Donald Trump has jokingly explained his administration’s roll-back of regulations concerning energy-efficient light bulbs as being due to a personal vendetta. Ranting about bulbs and other climate-related issues, like clean water, at the Republican annual retreat in Baltimore, he argued that energy-efficient bulbs are "many times more expensive than that old, incandescent bulb that worked very well" and "the light’s no good".
However, he revealed that this was not the only reason why he did not like the energy-saving light bulbs or the rules, which were crafted during the last days of the Obama presidency for environmental reasons and set to enter into force in January.
"People said what's with the light bulb? I said here’s the story, and I looked at it. The bulb that we're being forced to use, number one, to me, most importantly: the light's no good, I always look orange. And so do you. The light is the worst", he said to laughter in the audience.
President Trump: "The light bulb. People said what's with the light bulb. I said here's the story, and I looked at it. The bulb that we're being forced to use. Number one, to me, most importantly, the light's no good. I always look orange. And so do you. The light is the worst." pic.twitter.com/Hb4nu5xk5t
— The Hill (@thehill) September 13, 2019
The sudden confession on the matter of his hue, which netizens have joked about since Donald Trump’s presidential campaign, prompted a storm online.
Donald Trump actually said "I always look orange. And so do you. It's the light bulb"?????🤦♂️🤦♂️🤦♂️ https://t.co/RljrOnkYG3
— shoshana #FBPE #BitchesAgainstBrexit (@shoshanade) September 13, 2019
Ooooh Trump is blaming the light bulbs for making him orange, I bet you he’ll build a wall now to isolate him from all that orange negativity😂😂 wonder who’ll pay for it?? The light bulb association(LBS) ya trump it’s a real thing google it @realDonaldTrump #trump
— Nada Ihab (@nadalilaa) September 13, 2019
Turns out Trump repealed the LED bulb regulation because he believes that LED bulbs make him look orange. Never mind the reduced carbon emissions LED bulbs produced. So I just donated a few more bucks to @ewarren. We have to defeat #climatechange. She can lead us in that fight. https://t.co/qCwcEYoDDz
— Roger Vannoy ♻️ (@vannoy_roger) September 13, 2019
Many rushed to reassure the president that the LED bulbs are not to blame for making him look orange.
Trump’s claim that energy efficient lights make him look orange clearly indicates he’s never been to Home Depot and picked out an LED bulb based on its light temperature. Get a grip! Dads everywhere should be furious!!!
— Queen Xteen (@xtinathepw) September 13, 2019
Trump you look orange in the sunshine. It isn’t the light bulb. Your a cranky old racist who doesn’t like new fanggled things anyway, like Archie Bunker. You think wind turbines that create electricity “cause cancer”, and you use spray on tanning solution thinking that’s healthy!
— Trumpsternator #Resist (@Trumpsternator1) September 13, 2019
The only one who looks orange is Trump and it has nothing to do with the light bulb. Incandescent bulbs are bad for the environment and end up costing more than the alternatives.
— Mr Mo (@USSuckingBad) September 13, 2019
Earlier in September, the Trump administration stalled a transition in the US to electricity-efficient bulbs and other lighting means that are said to use less energy, as federal regulators overturned the Obama-era rules, which were due to take effect from the beginning of next year. While critics have insisted that the decision disrupts the efforts to battle climate change, the administration argued that the changes would push prices up.
