President Donald Trump speaks during a bill signing event for a bill blocking California's rule banning the sale of new gas-powered cars by 2035 in the East Room of the White House in Washington, June 12, 2025. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images )
Trump was joined Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy, Energy Secretary Chris Wright, EPA chief Lee Zeldin, whom Trump called the "most important man in the room," and other Republicans and administration leaders during the bill-signing event.
"They can't take us to court," Trump said, explaining the resolutions of disapproval were signed under the Congressional Review Act and not as executive orders. "They can't do any of the things they can do with the executive orders, and it's permanent. I'll sign three pieces of legislation that will kill the California mandates forever, and they're never coming back."
Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who currently finds himself repeatedly trading barbs with Trump as anti-ICE riots break out in his state, has long championed the left-wing state's EV mandates and plans, characterizing California as leading the U.S. into a future that does not rely on oil and gas.
"This is the most impactful step our state can take to fight climate change," Newsom said back in 2020 as he unveiled an executive order requiring sales of all new passenger vehicles to be zero-emission by 2035.
"For too many decades, we have allowed cars to pollute the air that our children and families breathe," he added. "Californians shouldn’t have to worry if our cars are giving our kids asthma. Our cars shouldn’t make wildfires worse — and create more days filled with smoky air. Cars shouldn’t melt glaciers or raise sea levels threatening our cherished beaches and coastlines."
SCOOP: CONGRESS BARRELS TOWARD SHOWDOWN OVER BIDEN-ERA RULE LETTING CALIFORNIA BAN GAS CARS
Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom has long championed the left-wing state's EV mandates and plans. (Jeff Chiu, File/The Associated Press)
Trump added that he is protecting American jobs with the bill signing, as China has been "very strong on electric" vehicles and auto jobs likely would have been "shipped to China."
"All of the auto jobs would be shipped to China because they're very strong on electric, and it lives off an estimated 200,000 American autoworkers would be destroyed," he said. "It's one of the reasons I did so well with the United Auto Workers, and now I'm really doing well with them. I did phenomenally with them."
Industry leaders celebrated the bill signing with American Trucking Association President and CEO Chris Spear remarking that "This is not the United States of California."
KAMALA HARRIS REVEALS TIMETABLE FOR MAKING MAJOR POLITICAL DECISION IN DEEP BLUE STATE
"Today, common sense prevailed. We thank President Trump, EPA Administrator Zeldin, and congressional leadership for taking decisive action to end crippling, detached-from-reality rulemakings that would have imposed devastating economic consequences on American businesses and families," Spear said in comment provided to Fox News Digital. "This is not the United States of California. With the stroke of his pen, President Trump is restoring the certainty that the trucking industry needs to deliver for our nation as we continue to reduce our environmental impact."
President Donald Trump's resolutions follow him signing a bevy of executive orders that aim to "unleash American energy" as part of his 2024 campaign vow to again make the U.S. energy independent. (Alex Brandon/The Associated Press)
"We appreciate the actions taken by President Trump to sign H.J. Res. 88 into law and help align emissions standards with today’s market realities," General Motors added in statement provided to Fox Digital. "We have long advocated for one national standard that will allow us to stay competitive, continue to invest in U.S. innovation, and offer customer choice across the broadest lineup of gas-powered and electric vehicles,"
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Trump's resolutions follow him signing a bevy of executive orders that aim to "unleash American energy" as part of his 2024 campaign vow to again make the U.S. energy independent, including by revitalizing the coal industry by cutting red tape and regulations, and unleashing oil and gas development in the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska.
Fox News Digital reached out to Newsom's office regarding the resolutions, but did not immediately receive a response.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-escalates-battle-newsom-shutting-down-governors-left-wing-rules-rocking-car-industry