Trump’s energy nominee booed by climate protesters, ridiculed by Democrats

Lawmakers grilled President-elect Trump’s energy secretary about climate changethe Los Angeles wildfires and the Biden administration’s green energy agenda during his nomination hearing, which saw interruptions from several climate protesters.

The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee held a confirmation hearing for Chris Wright, CEO of Liberty Energy Inc. and Trump’s pick to head the Department of Energyon Wednesday, which was also his birthday.

Trump’s nominee was introduced by a Democratic senator, Sen. John Hickenlooper of Colorado, who described him as “an unbridled fossil fuel enthusiast.” Wright focused his answers on the energy domain, saying climate change is a “real problem,” global energy demand and his focus on growing energy resources.

“The United States has a historic opportunity to protect our energy systems, provide leadership in scientific and technological innovation, manage our weapons stockpiles, and meet our legacy Cold War commitments on waste,” Wright said in his keynote address.

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Wright said he has identified three “immediate tasks” on which he will focus his attention, if nominated: unleashing American energy, leading the world in innovation and technological advancements, and increasing American manufacturing.

“President Trump shares my passion for energy, and if confirmed, I will work tirelessly to implement his bold agenda as the unabashed steward of all sources of affordable, reliable, and secure American energy,” Wright told the committee.

Republicans, such as Senator Steve Daines of Montana, focused their questions on the Biden administration’s policies, such as the ban on liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports. appliance regulationsand, more recently, blocking drilling along the coast.

Several Democratic senators claimed that committee chairman Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) scheduled the confirmation hearing before committee members were provided with all required documentation on Wright. Other Democrats took advantage of their time at the microphone to claim that the Los Angeles fires were caused by “climate change.”

“Despite the misinformation circulating here on Capitol Hill, in California, and everywhere in between, it is clear that these fires are only reaching the size and scale they are due to unusually dry vegetation and extremely high winds, which are a direct consequence of climate change,” Senator Alex Padilla, Democrat of California, said during the hearing.

Asked about the issue of climate change, Wright said he believes it is a “real issue.”

“I have studied and followed the data and evolution of climate change for at least 20 years. It is a global problem. It is a real problem. It is a challenging problem,” Wright said, adding that he believes the solution to climate change “is to do evolve our energy system.

Fox News Digital captured images of several climate change protesters disrupting Wright’s hearing on Wednesday.

One protester stood up as Wright was questioned, asking if his policies would “put out the fires in Los Angeles.”

“Are you going to ask any questions or are you just going to talk about the weather this whole time?” said another protester who was removed from the hearing room.

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Several other climate protesters were also stationed outside the courtroom, wearing T-shirts that read: “I won’t let my future burn.”