Trump Brings Up Wind Energy TV Myth Again
Qwenews.com – Remember that Trump again asks Americans to recall a moment that never truly occurred. During a recent visit to the Environmental Protection Agency headquarters in Washington, President Donald Trump encouraged viewers to remember what he described as a nationwide television blackout that supposedly happened two years ago. The incident never actually took place. Once more, the president—who regularly circulates false stories—invited the public to remember a narrative he created himself. This particular story focused on wind power, an energy source Trump has consistently challenged, tried to restrict, and misrepresented throughout his political career.
The Missing Television Broadcast
Trump’s persistent anecdote suggests that in areas dependent on wind energy, people cannot turn on their televisions when the wind stops blowing. This claim is fundamentally wrong. Wind power works together with other electricity generation methods rather than operating independently, which means the electrical grid keeps functioning and homes stay powered even during calm weather conditions. Furthermore, contemporary battery storage systems collect energy from wind turbines to provide electricity during periods of reduced wind activity.
They were saying wind was so wonderful, so wonderful, except you couldn’t watch your television. They wanted to watch the debate, Donald Trump against Sleepy Joe Biden. Nobody could watch it because the wind wasn’t blowing. Remember that? ‘Darling, we’d like to watch the debate tonight.’ ‘I’m sorry, the wind isn’t blowing.’
Trump shared this story with his trademark humor, allowing it to pass without serious examination. At the EPA gathering, he presented it as a real memory rather than something he made up. He criticized what he termed “the Green New Scam, where we were scammed,” claiming he understood the issue right away.
Examining the Debate Claim
The assertion about missing the presidential debate does not withstand scrutiny. According to Nielsen research, more than 51 million Americans viewed the June 2024 presidential debate through television broadcasts alone. A significant portion of those viewers lived in Texas—the leading wind energy producer in both 2024 and the current year—despite the state’s strong Republican affiliation. Texas also happens to be the most populous state Trump won during the election.
Although President Biden promoted renewable energy growth during his time in office and set a goal for 100 percent clean electricity by 2035, Congress never passed the Green New Deal. The progressive Democratic initiative remained a nonbinding resolution recommending a ten-year shift toward clean, renewable, and zero-emission energy sources. Government data shows wind provided roughly 10 percent of total U.S. net electricity production in 2024.
Other Inaccuracies at the EPA
Trump’s Thursday address included several other errors beyond the wind energy narrative. He claimed California suffers “brownouts and blackouts every weekend,” a statement contradicted by official records. California’s governor’s office responded on Friday, with a spokesperson stating in an email that “there hasn’t been a rolling blackout in nearly six years in California” and that “California’s grid hasn’t had to call for any emergency conservation through the Flex Alert program since 2022.” The spokesperson highlighted that these facts prove the effectiveness of the state’s investments in clean energy and battery storage technology.
Trump also expressed frustration on two different occasions that he receives “no credit” for the United States gathering “$19.2 trillion” in investment during his first twelve months back in office. This number lacks proper verification. The nation has not come close to that investment total during the current presidential term, let alone within the opening year. Previous investigations have confirmed that even the White House cannot substantiate Trump’s exaggerated figure.
