Story highlights Gary Cohn is Trump's top economic adviser

Cohn met with the climate ministers on Monday

United Nations (CNN) A top White House adviser affirmed Monday that President Donald Trump plans to withdraw from the Paris climate accord after confusion arose on the issue this weekend.

Gary Cohn, Trump's top economic adviser, reiterated during a morning meeting with climate ministers that Trump intends to follow through with the withdrawal unless there's a way to strike an agreement more favorable to the United States.

"Consistent with the President's announcement in June, we are withdrawing from the Paris Agreement unless we can reengage on terms more favorable to the United States," a White House official said Monday. "This position was made very clear during the breakfast."

Cohn met with the climate ministers from more than a dozen large economy nations on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, where climate issues are expected to arise among world leaders. The planned withdrawal has created a major rift between Trump and many US allies.

The message from Cohn came after a European diplomat told reporters over the weekend that a Trump administration envoy appeared to signal a softening stance during a meeting in Montreal. The White House denied there was any change in Trump's views, and other diplomats in the meeting said the comments were misinterpreted.

Read More