U.S. President Donald Trump declared victory on Wednesday over what he referred to as the "hoax" of climate change. This statement followed comments from billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates, who suggested that a warming planet would not lead to the end of civilization.

On his Truth Social platform, Trump stated, "I (WE!) just won the War on the Climate Change Hoax. Bill Gates has finally admitted that he was completely WRONG on the issue. It took courage to do so, and for that we are all grateful."

Gates, the co-founder of Microsoft, released a memo this week asserting that climate change "will not lead to humanity’s demise." This statement marked a significant shift in his stance on the issue. He acknowledged that while climate change poses "serious" challenges, people will likely be able to live and thrive in most regions of the Earth for the foreseeable future. Gates emphasized that addressing global disease and poverty would better prepare the world's most vulnerable populations for the impacts of a warming climate.

In his memo, Gates recognized that some may accuse him of hypocrisy due to his substantial carbon footprint. He also anticipated criticism that his message could be interpreted as a way to downplay the seriousness of climate change. However, he highlighted the progress made in reducing emissions and expressed optimism that future technologies would further enhance these efforts.

Trump has consistently expressed skepticism regarding environmental issues. In a speech to the UN General Assembly in September, he labeled climate change as the "greatest con job ever." Since resuming office in January after a successful 2024 election campaign, Trump has rolled back various green policies, benefiting from significant financial support from oil companies during his campaign.