President-elect Donald Trump's confirmation hearing for Chris Wright, his nominee for energy secretary, was interrupted at least five times by irate left-wing climate change activists within the first hour Wednesday morning.
Wright, the CEO of Liberty Energy, experienced an interruption during his introduction and questions from senators. from Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.
A U.S. Capitol Police officer stands near protesters outside a Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee confirmation hearing on Wednesday, January 15, 2025, in Washington, DC. (Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty)
At one point, the disruption was so great that lawmakers called for a recess in committee until Capitol Police subdued the protesters.
The protesters' exact comments are muffled and unclear, but they appear to have tried to link fossil fuels to climate change, with one demonstrator saying the hearing was being held “while Los Angeles is burning.” he shouted.
“I'm 18 years old, I want a future,” another demonstrator shouted.
Each protester was quickly removed from the room by security, and senators called for mutual respect and an end to disruption of the hearing.
Far-left Democrats and activists have recently blamed the deadly and destructive Los Angeles wildfires on climate change, not Santa Ana's high winds and countless failures by local and state governments to prepare for the disaster. He blames it.
Wright addressed the pandemic during the hearing and called conversations around climate change, fossil fuels and energy “complex conversations.”
“What I am saying is that we want more energy in the world because it makes people's lives better. We need to understand that there is no such thing as dirty energy or clean energy. “Every energy is different and has different trade-offs. Different people weigh and evaluate trade-offs differently. Different geographies and locations have climates that favor this energy over others.” said.
“So It's a complex conversation, so getting people to share this wide range of perspectives is not easy. “I think we see some of that in the passionate, well-meaning, wonderful people sitting in the hearing today,” he added.
The left-wing Sunrise Movement, a climate change group that promotes a Green New Deal, was protesting outside Wright's confirmation hearing, according to a post by the group on X.
“The last thing we want to do is put the CEO of an oil company in charge of energy policy when fires are ravaging entire neighborhoods in Los Angeles,” the group said in a statement posted in yellow with the words “Reject the Light.” he wrote above a photo of an activist holding a placard.
Activists say Democratic Sens. Ed Markey (R-Mass.), Bernie Sanders (D-Vermont) and Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) are also participating, and Wright It said his confirmation was a “threat to our democracy and our future.”
President Trump nominated Wright as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) in November after the presidential election, naming him as “the leader of the U.S. shale revolution that promoted U.S. energy independence and transformed global energy markets and geopolitics.'' He was one of the pioneers who contributed to the
President Trump said that in addition to serving as U.S. Secretary of Energy, Wright will also serve as “a member of the newly established National Energy Council.”
“I am thrilled to announce that Chris Wright will join our administration as Secretary of Energy and as a member of the newly created National Energy Council,” President Trump said. “Chris is a leading engineer and entrepreneur in the energy sector. He has worked in nuclear power, solar power, geothermal, and oil and gas. Most importantly, Chris is a leading engineer and entrepreneur in the energy sector. He was one of the pioneers who helped launch the American shale revolution that transformed global energy markets and geopolitics.”
President Trump went on to explain that the National Energy Council will be comprised of all departments and agencies involved in the licensing, production, generation, distribution, regulation, and transportation of “American energy in all its forms.”
“This council will help improve America's energy efficiency by eliminating red tape, strengthening private sector investment across all sectors of the economy, and focusing on innovation beyond long-standing but completely unnecessary regulations. He will oversee his path to domination,” Trump added.
A press release from the Trump-Vance transition team continues:
Chris Wright, a self-proclaimed technology geek turned entrepreneur, is the founder, CEO, and chairman of the board of Liberty Energy (NYSE: LBRT). Chris is a dedicated humanitarian with a passion for bringing the benefits of energy to all communities around the world. This passion inspired a career in the energy sector, working not only in oil and gas, but also in nuclear, solar and geothermal fields. Chris accepts any energy source that is abundant, affordable, and reliable.
Breitbart News reported in 2021 that Wright criticized the oil and gas industry for how companies like The North Face are “deeply dependent” on the industry to “build their products.” It has been reported that two videos have been released showing this.
The North Face has expressed its “no” to the oil and gas industry, but after browsing the company's website, Wright said, “I can't find a single product that isn't made from oil and gas. I couldn't do it,” he said.
Katherine Hamilton is a political reporter for Breitbart News. You can follow her at @thekat_Hamilton.
