Trump transition official compares climate change theory to flat earth theory, and thinks both might be wrong.

The stupid. It burns.

Appearing on CNN, Anthony Scaramucci, an adviser to President-elect Donald Trump and a leader on his transition team, compared the scientific consensus concerning climate change to theories claiming the earth is flat, arguing that both could be wrong.

During an interview on CNN’s “New Day” Wednesday morning, Scaramucci was asked about climate change by host Chris Cuomo.

Scaramucci tried to dodge the question, suggesting that climate change is really a matter of political opinion, and that because scientists had been wrong in the past about flat earth theory and geocentrism, they might also be wrong about climate change.

At one point, towards the end of the heated discussion, Scaramucci made the laughable suggestion that the Earth is only 5,500 years old:

Watch the exchange below:

Transcript via Media Matters:

CHRIS CUOMO (ANCHOR): Well, you’ve got different conversations. You have “Do you accept the science of man’s impact on the warming of the planet?” And then you have “Well, what policy considerations do you make in light of that science?” That’s one discussion. My first question, though, I’m not completely satisfied on yet, which is, I don’t get that intellectual exercise to find out who worked on global warming. Why do you need to know who worked on global warming?

ANTHONY SCARAMUCCI (TRUMP TRANSITION TEAM): I know that the current president believes that the human beings are affecting the climate. There are scientists that believe that that’s not happening. I think that for me personally —

CUOMO: The overwhelming consensus in the scientific community is that man’s actions have an impact on science. You have to correct that whenever it comes out. Go ahead.

SCARAMUCCI: Chris, there was an overwhelming science that the Earth was flat. And there was an overwhelming science that —

CUOMO: It’s called ignorance. You learn over time.

SCARAMUCCI: We were the center of the world. A hundred percent, you know, we get a lot of things wrong in the scientific community. You and I both know that. I’m not suggesting that we’re not affecting the change. I honestly don’t know, I’m not a scientist. If you’re asking me for my opinion, it’s probably a blend of people —

CUOMO: I’m not.

SCARAMUCCI: You’re not asking me for my opinion?

CUOMO: I’m not. And I’m not offering my own. I’m telling you that there is a consensus within the scientific community. When you say, “I don’t know,” that means you’re ignoring the consensus in the scientific community. I’m saying just be straight about it.

….

CUOMO: Anthony, all I’m saying is that there is a scientific consensus when it comes to the issue of whether or not man’s actions has a negative impact on this warming phenomenon that’s going on, and that’s just the fact. Whether you accept it or not is up to you. The policy considerations that you make are secondary. They don’t have to be tied to your position on the first issue. You can accept the science and say, “But, we have to put business first. We have to keep jobs here. We want clean air and water.” I said to another supporter of Trump, just for context. I just want you to understand the context. I said to Marsha Blackburn, “Can you be for clean air and clean water if you don’t accept the science?” And a lot of Trump supporters came after me for it. I’ll say it, again. Because it’s about the genuineness of the commitment to clean air and clean water. If you don’t accept the science on warming, is it a genuine commitment? That’s my question.

SCARAMUCCI: Of course it’s a genuine commitment to clean air and clean water. Chris, whether you accept the science or not, let’s accept the science for a second here in this conversation. We’re going to move in that direction. If you don’t accept the science, we want to move in that direction. It’s better for the United States and better for the world to have the U.S. be energy independent. Have us have clean air and clean water and protect the environment for future generations of Americans. All of that makes sense. But, again, you know, I don’t want to litigate that. What I want to do is I want to have a problem solving-oriented, common sense, solution-based administration, because that’s what the president-elect has given us a directive to do here at Trump Tower. So, we’re doing that. So, you and I may disagree on a couple of things, but I think we’re both generally going in the same direction. You want clean air for your children, clean water, so does President-elect Trump and so do I, Chris.

CUOMO: I just want you to understand it’s not ideological for me. I’m just stating to you what the proposition is from the scientific community.

SCARAMUCCI: But it isn’t for me either.

CUOMO: But you don’t accept the science. Let me just move on to something else, though –

SCARAMUCCI: I didn’t say that. I said I’m not –

CUOMO: You said you don’t know. I’m saying the scientific community does.

SCARAMUCCI: But you’re saying that you do, and you’re saying the scientific community knows, and I’m saying people have gotten things wrong throughout the 5,500-year history of our planet.

CUOMO: I think you have to distinguish between predictions and the fundamental proposition. But let me ask you something else while I have you.