Ambassador Walz Discusses Efforts to Prevent Global Green Tax

NEW YORK — U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Walz shared insights with Breitbart News about how President Donald Trump and his Cabinet worked together at the last moment to thwart the establishment of a “global green tax.” He described this initiative as an attempt to create a “United Nations climate change slush fund.”

Walz’s remarks were made during an extensive on-camera interview at the UN in late October, marking his first significant interview since being confirmed by the U.S. Senate. A more comprehensive discussion on UN reform will follow, but the segment focused on this critical achievement reveals a lot about the second-term Trump administration’s approach to resisting costly international environmental measures. He compared Trump’s decisive action to that of a wrestler delivering a finishing blow.

“They nearly mandated that our global operations enforce the Green New Deal,” Walz noted during the interview on October 23, emphasizing that “80% of our economy…” would have been in jeopardy. He indicated that it could have resulted in an additional cost of $1 billion per month for shipping goods internationally. Many believed the measure was a foregone conclusion, as all parties, including the president, seemed aligned. Walz expressed pride in what he sees as a save for American consumers. The week ahead is marked by significant developments, as this first UN tax’s implications are set to unfold. “This is an achievement we believe benefits the American public,” he added.

Walz views this outcome as a significant rationale for U.S. involvement with global entities like the United Nations. He argued that a complete withdrawal would have allowed globalists to proceed unimpeded. Thanks to Trump’s engagement, their plans were successfully challenged.

“If we had stepped back, they would have moved forward without us,” Walz remarked. “It would have influenced everyone—farmers, manufacturers, and more. I say we need to confront these issues head-on, defending American interests,” he stated, noting the importance of engaging with international organizations.

Describing the effort as collaborative, Walz highlighted the roles of several cabinet members, including Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and Energy Secretary Chris Wright, who joined him in pushing back against this initiative alongside Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Trump himself.

Walz recounted the alarm raised by members of Congress, particularly those from districts with significant shipping activity, framing the push against the tax as a vital response. “We rallied around this issue, and the president brought forth compelling arguments, something that was less common with Biden’s administration. We outlined the consequences of such actions. Although we faced accusations of being bullies, it’s clear that others were the ones pushing an aggressive climate agenda—and we couldn’t let that go unchallenged,” he explained.

He further elaborated that the proposed tax would heavily target U.S. shipping, compelling companies to either pay substantial global taxes or retrofit their ships in China to comply with European standards, which was averted. Walz anticipates attempts at the globalist agenda will resurface but believes the administration will be better equipped to counter them moving forward.

“Had the tax taken effect, we would be talking about a monthly cost of a billion dollars in penalties for shipping companies; that would inevitably be passed on to consumers,” Walz pointed out. He made clear that it could have resulted in a “green climate slush fund” benefiting the UN by billions annually, adding pressure on American financial systems. “They’re likely to try this again. We delayed the vote just in time, though. We understand this is only the beginning of their efforts,” he said, framing the issue as part of a broader ideological battle surrounding climate change, which he finds inconsistent and impractical.

Walz concluded by advocating for a diversified energy strategy, including nuclear, gas, oil, coal, and other renewable options, to effectively tackle energy demands. He expressed concern about potential manipulations of trade agreements through regulations imposed by organizations under the UN’s umbrella, emphasizing the ongoing need for champions of American interests. “With team members like myself and Tammy Bruce stepping into new roles, we’re committed to standing strong for the President’s America First agenda against these organizations,” he affirmed.

The remainder of Walz’s discussion with Breitbart News regarding Trump administration goals for UN reform will be available soon.