Story highlights Trump decision on Paris was announced Thursday

Speech signals rising influence of Steve Bannon

Washington (CNN) President Donald Trump, facing historically low approval ratings, stuck to the script Thursday that won him the White House: Nationalism.

Trump, with the help of former Breitbart head Steve Bannon, won the 2016 election with a nationalist message that swayed disaffected working class voters to the businessman-turned-president. In announcing his plan to withdraw from the sweeping Paris climate agreement, Trump echoed the campaign rhetoric, delivering in the sweltering sun what could have been a campaign stem-winder.

Trump argued Thursday that by pulling out of the agreement, which required countries to curb carbon emissions, he was putting towns like Detroit, Pittsburgh and Youngstown, Ohio, ahead of foreign cities like Paris.

"I was elected to represent the citizens of Pittsburgh, not Paris," Trump, standing in the Rose Garden, said to applause from invited guests.

The White House was laser-focused on nationalism and the economy, rather than the impact of global warming. In a background briefing after the announcement, two White House officials dodged questions about whether Trump believes human activity contributes to climate change.

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