Story highlights Trump's proposed 2018 budget would slash $3.1 billion from energy research programs

Washington (CNN) Despite announcing plans to pull out of the Paris climate accord, President Donald Trump's language and that of his EPA administrator, Scott Pruitt, seem at odds with the actions he proposes taking.

"We will be environmentally friendly," the President reassured.

The next day, Trump's Environmental Protection Agency administrator stood at the podium in the White House press briefing room and touted America's commitment to curbing climate change: "From 2000 to 2014, we reduced our carbon footprint by up -- over 18%. And that's been largely accomplished through innovation and technology, not government mandate. So, when we look at issues like this, we are leading with action and not words."

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Pruitt described the United States as a leader in clean energy that would continue to lead by helping other countries reduce their own carbon emissions by exporting US technology.

"Export our innovation, to export our technology to the rest of the world, to demonstrate how we do it better here is, I think, a very important message to send," Pruitt said.

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