[Photo: Donald Trump with EPA Secretary Scott Pruitt / screen grab]

 

"In order to fulfill my solemn duty to protect America and its citizens, the United States will withdraw from the Paris climate accord, but begin negotiations to re-enter either the Paris accord or an entirely new transaction on terms that are fair to the United States, its businesses, its workers, its people, its taxpayers."  

"So we're getting out, but we will start to negotiate, and we will see if we can make a deal that's fair. And if we can that's great, and if we can't that's fine."  - -  Donald Trump

In response, the governments of Germany, Italy and France issued a joint statement saying they "firmly believe" that the accord can't be renegotiated.

In a statement following Trump's announcement, Former President Obama said he believes "the United States of America should be at the front of the pack. But even in the absence of American leadership; even as this administration joins a small handful of nations that reject the future; I'm confident that our states, cities, and businesses will step up and do even more to lead the way, and help protect for future generations the one planet we've got."

True to his word, Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who supports the Paris Climate Accord, announced that he would immediately resign from 3 White House advisory councils.

Trump cannot technically pull out of the agreement until November 2019, and the U.S. must give a year's notice before it can withdraw, according to reports. So a withdrawal may not take effect until 2020, though mechanisms exist to possibly speed the process. The White House contends that the U.S. has already reduced its carbon dioxide emissions and does not need the Paris accord to cut them even more, according to talking points obtained by CNBC.