Donald Trump mocks Greta Thunberg in sarcastic tweet after her passionate UN speech: ‘Such a happy girl’
President Trump reportedly appeared to mock climate activist Greta Thunberg after he tweeted a video of the emotional teenager, writing alongside that she seemed to be "a very happy young girl" who was looking forward to a bright future. “She seems like a very happy young girl looking forward to a bright and wonderful future. So nice to see!” the U.S. president tweeted late Monday night.
Thunberg, who was visibly upset in the video as she delivered an impassioned speech to world leaders at a United Nations summit, said they had betrayed future generations through their inertia over the climate crisis.
“You are still not mature enough to tell it like it is. You are failing us," the 16-year-old Swedish activist told governments during her speech. "But the young people are starting to understand your betrayal.”
“You have stolen my dreams and my childhood with your empty words,” she continued. “The eyes of all future generations are upon you. And if you choose to fail us I say we will never forgive you. We will not let you get away with this. Right here, right now is where we draw the line.”
Thunberg has been in New York for the climate summit after she kickstarted the global School Strike movement which saw her organize weekly Friday strikes in schools across Sweden. As President Trump arrived at the United Nations to attend a meeting on religious freedom, Thunberg crossed paths with the U.S. leader. However, Trump skipped the US climate summit held the same day due to clashing schedules.
A video of Thunberg staring angrily at the president went viral immediately after the event, prompting 2020 Democratic presidential hopeful Julian Castro to tweet, “I think a lot of us can relate.” The 16-year-old told reporters she had very little hope she would be able to convince President Trump to address the climate emergency.
“I say listen to the science and he obviously does not do that," she said. "If no-one has been able to convince him about the climate crisis and the urgency, why would I be able to?”