(CNN) — Former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Wednesday criticized President Donald Trump’s remarks at the UN General Assembly that the scientific consensus about climate change was a “scam” and “the greatest con job ever perpetrated on the world.”

“Well, I’m not surprised that he said that,” Schwarzenegger told CNN in an exclusive interview.

Schwarzenegger said he was friendly with Trump before he ran for president in 2016. When Trump asked Schwarzenegger to endorse his campaign, Schwarzenegger considered doing so. But, he ultimately told Trump he couldn’t because of Trump’s views about climate issues.

“The bottom line is that he just never believed in it,” Schwarzenegger said. “And to me, I said to myself, ‘OK, then I cannot really go and be on his team.’”

Speaking to CN

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