Trump, utilizing the "America First" message he employed during his election campaign, stated that the Paris agreement would harm the US economy, lead to job losses, diminish American sovereignty, and put the country at a long-term disadvantage compared to other nations. Trump made this announcement during a ceremony in the White House Rose Garden on a sunny June day, fulfilling a key promise from his campaign. He emphasized that the US does not want to be mocked by other leaders or countries and that those urging the US to stay in the agreement are the same ones who have cost America trillions of dollars through unfair trade practices and inadequate contributions to military alliances. Republican leaders in the US Congress supported Trump's decision to withdraw from the Paris climate accord. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell praised Trump for weakening the Obama administration's restrictions on energy production and job creation. On the other hand, supporters of the agreement, including some prominent American business leaders, criticized Trump's move as a setback for global efforts to address the threat of climate change. Former Democratic President Barack Obama expressed disappointment over the US withdrawal from the deal he helped negotiate. Despite this, Obama expressed confidence that states, cities, and businesses in the US would continue to take action to combat climate change and protect the planet for future generations. Trump, who has previously dismissed climate change as a hoax, stated that his administration would start discussions to either rejoin the Paris agreement or create a new agreement that is favorable to the United States. He expressed dissatisfaction with China's terms in the agreement. Global leaders responded with disappointment and frustration, viewing Trump's decision as a rejection of global cooperation. Japanese Environment Minister Koichi Yamamoto expressed his anger at a news conference on Friday in a very direct manner. Leaders from Germany, France, and Italy issued a rare joint statement stating that the climate agreement could not be renegotiated and urged other countries to accelerate their efforts to combat climate change. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau acknowledged the disappointment of the US decision but remained hopeful about the global momentum to combat climate change. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and top European Union officials are expected to release a joint statement committing both sides to fully implement the Paris accord, marking the first such statement issued by China and the EU. Premier Li reaffirmed China's commitment to fighting climate change during a speech in Berlin the day before. Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich stated that the decision to join the Paris accord was made and unlikely to be changed, according to RIA news agency. A top advisor to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in India also expressed intentions to transition to renewable energy sources, independent of the accord. The United States' withdrawal from the agreement leaves them isolated, as nearly every other nation in the world remains committed to addressing the pressing global issue of climate change. Syria and Nicaragua are the only other countries that have not signed the accord. Fiji's Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama, who will lead the UN Climate Change Conferences that formalized the 2015 pact, expressed his disappointment in Trump's decision. Like other small island nations, Fiji is considered highly susceptible to the effects of global warming and rising ocean levels due to melting polar ice. US business leaders, including Goldman Sachs Group Inc Chief Executive Lloyd Blankfein, criticized the Trump administration's choice, calling it a setback for the environment and US leadership on the world stage. Tesla Inc CEO Elon Musk and Walt Disney CEO Robert Iger announced they would be stepping down from White House advisory councils in response to Trump's decision. The Paris agreement, which was a result of years of negotiations, involved both wealthy and developing nations committing to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases from burning fossil fuels, which are believed to contribute to global warming. President Trump rejected the agreement, stating that he was elected to represent the people of Pittsburgh, not Paris. However, Pittsburgh's mayor, Bill Peduto, argued that the city, historically known for its steel industry, supported the accord. The UN Secretary-General's spokesperson expressed disappointment at the decision, and the UN body responsible for climate negotiations stated that the agreement could not be renegotiated based on the demands of one country. Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull expressed his disappointment in the US decision to withdraw from the Paris climate accord during a speech in Singapore on Friday. He stated that while the decision was not surprising, Australia remains committed to their Paris commitments. The foreign ministry of South Korea also expressed regret over the US withdrawal, stating that it will undermine international efforts to address climate change. President Trump announced that the US would cease payments to the UN Green Climate Fund, which was established to assist developing nations in dealing with the effects of climate change. The White House confirmed that they would adhere to the UN regulations for withdrawing from the agreement, which require a three-year waiting period from the pact's legal force date of November 4, 2016. The country will need to wait another year before taking action. Tim Cook, the CEO of Apple, shared his disappointment in an email to employees, mentioning that he had tried to convince Trump to remain in the Paris accord during a conversation on Tuesday. Cook felt his efforts were not sufficient. Other corporate executives cautioned that the US economy would lose its edge in technology. Jeff Immelt, the CEO of General Electric, also expressed disappointment, emphasizing the reality of climate change. Industry needs to take charge and not rely on the government, according to critics. Democrats strongly criticized Trump's decision to withdraw from the Paris Agreement, with Senate leader Chuck Schumer calling it a detrimental move for the economy, environment, and global reputation. The US had pledged to reduce emissions by 26-28% by 2025, but now risks falling short of this goal. The US is the second largest emitter of greenhouse gases globally, after China. Prominent climate scientists have stated that greenhouse gas emissions are responsible for trapping heat in the atmosphere, resulting in a warming planet, rising sea levels, droughts, and more frequent violent storms. A recent report titled "Global Trends," released by the US Director of National Intelligence's office on Jan. 9, raised concerns about the security risks posed by climate change due to extreme weather events, water and food scarcity, and global tensions regarding how to address these changes. Last year was recorded as the warmest on record since the 19th Century, with global temperatures continuing to rise over the decades, a trend attributed to greenhouse gases by scientists. Frank Rijsberman, Director-General of the Global Green Growth Institute in Seoul, expressed concerns that international funding for climate change mitigation efforts would decrease, citing a $1 billion reduction in US funding to the Green Climate Fund in South Korea. Economists warned that the US withdrawal could potentially lead to job losses in the country. According to data from the International Renewable Energy Agency (Irena), both China and the EU have more workers in the renewable energy sector than the United States. Peter Kiernan of the Economist Intelligence Unit believes that by scaling back the climate agenda, the US will fall behind in the clean energy transition compared to other global players like Europe and China who are showing a greater commitment to deploying low carbon solutions and creating jobs to combat climate change.