President Donald Trump tweeted that his proposed rollback would make engines run smoother and would have “very little impact on the environment.” | Alex Brandon/AP Photo White House Trump slams auto execs as 'foolish' after they bucked his emissions rules rollback

President Donald Trump on Wednesday denounced auto executives said to be considering bucking his administration’s proposed rollback of emissions standards, calling the business leaders “foolish.”

“My proposal to the politically correct Automobile Companies would lower the average price of a car to consumers by more than $3000, while at the same time making the cars substantially safer,” Trump said in a tweet, claiming that his proposed rollback would make engines run smoother and that there would be “very little impact on the environment.”


“Foolish executives!” he added.

Trump appeared to be referring to reports that his proposal to scrap former President Barack Obama’s remaining signature climate change rules, which dictated auto emissions, is threatened by automakers’ plans to adhere to the stronger regulations anyway.

The situation, a rare instance of an administration acting against the wishes of an industry that would be subject to more regulation, is born of a desire to avoid a drawn-out legal battle that could result in patchwork standards across the country.

The New York Times reported Tuesday that the White House summoned Toyota, Fiat Chrysler and General Motors to a meeting last month, during which Trump tried to stanch the flow of auto companies joining a pact to stick to stricter emissions standards set by California.

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Honda, Ford, Volkswagen and BMW have already signed on, with the Times reporting that German automaker Mercedes-Benz and one of the companies summoned by Trump also plan to join.

Thirteen states have joined California in vowing to uphold standards similar to the 2012 Obama rule, which required automakers to jack up the average fuel economy of new cars and trucks to 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025, nearly double the current standard. The Obama-era standards were projected to slash carbon dioxide emissions, which contribute to climate change, by around 6 billion tons over the new cars’ lifetimes. Trump's proposal would also block states like California from imposing their own emissions standards.

The industry rebuff is said to have “enraged” the president, according to the Times, and has him rushing staff to get the new rule in place before it is rendered moot by more automakers agreeing to the higher standards. Already, the outlet reported, the six companies either in or likely to adhere to the higher standards make up 40 percent of car sales in the country.

Contrary to Trump’s claims, one study found that the White House plan would cost consumers hundreds of billions of dollars and force car buyers to pay an extra $3,300 per vehicle — on average — in base prices and fuel purchases. Trump’s plan would also boost oil production by 320 billion gallons, according to the Consumer Reports study.

