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US President Donald Trump said the Paris agreement "front loads costs on American people", "disadvantages the US" to benefit other countries and causes a "vastly diminished economic reduction". He said: "In order to fulfill my solemn duty to protect America... the United States will withdraw from the Paris climate accord.” The Republican leader says the decision fulfills his promise to "put American workers first". Mr Trump said he hopes to seek "a better deal" and the current "deal subjects our citizens to harsh economic restrictions " and "punishes the United States".

SKY NEWS Donald Trump is set to withdraw from the Paris climate agreement

In order to fulfill my solemn duty to protect America... the United States will withdraw from the Paris climate accord Donald Trump

He said the US will begin negotiations to re-enter a Paris accord or new accord on terms fair to America. President Trump said: "But begin negotiations to reenter either the Paris accord or an entirely new transaction on terms that are fair to the United States. “So we’re getting out but we’ll start to negotiate and we’ll see if we can make a deal that’s fair." President Trump went on: "As someone who cares deeply about the environment, as I do, I cannot in good conscience support a deal which harms the United States, which it does. "We will have the cleanest air, the cleanest water, but we're not going to lose our jobs." The President also claimed Paris would have outlawed US coal but allowed China and Indian coal. He said: “In short the agreement doesn’t eliminate coal jobs, it just transfers those jobs out of the United States.

Donald Trump meets Pope Francis in the Vatican Wed, May 24, 2017 Donald Trump met Pope Francis for a private audience in the Vatican Play slideshow AFP/Getty Images 1 of 13 The Pope and the US President exchange gifts

SKY NEWS Mike Pence praised Trump for a 'great' speech

Former US president Barack Obama reacted to the news, saying he was confident states, cities and businesses would “step up”. And in a swipe to the now President he said America had joined a handful of countries who “reject the future”. In a statement he said: “I believe that the United States of America should be in the front of the pack. "But even in the absence of nations that reject the future; I’m confident that our states, cities and businesses will step up and do even more to lead the way, and help protect for future generations the one planet we’ve got." Introducing President Trump, Vice President Mike Pence dedicated his speech to "a president who is fighting everyday to make Amrica great again." He said: "President Trump is working tirelessly to keep to the promises he made to the American people. "Thanks to President Trump, America is back. He said Trump was putting "American jobs and American consumers first. American energy and indusry first." Mr Pence added: "His actions today show he is choosing the forgetten American men and women first.

SKY NEWS Trump said the deal 'punishes the US'