Former New York City mayor and billionaire philanthropist Michael Bloomberg says he’s sending a check for $4.5 million to help the United States keep its Paris climate accord commitment.
In an interview aired Sunday on CBS News’ “Face The Nation,” the wealthy businessman warned “it’s dangerous to keep doing what we’re doing” on environmental issues.
“America made a commitment and as an American if the government's not going to do it we all have responsibility,” he said. “I'm able to do it. So, yes, I'm going to send them a check for the monies that America had promised to the organization as though they got it from the federal government.”
He said he hopes President Donald Trump will relent next year and get back onboard with the multi-nation environmental pact.
“It's dangerous to keep doing what we're doing,” he said. “If everybody would do the right thing, yes, it would be better. But if some people or some countries do the right thing, we all benefit from that.”
Bloomberg hit hard against Environmental Protection Agency head Scott Pruitt, accusing him of not doing his job.
“His policies are not good for the world,” Bloomberg declared. “To debunk science and walk away from it is just ridiculous. Even if you don't believe it —if there's a possibility that it's right — you have to take prophylactic actions to prevent a disaster.”
Bloomberg said the EPA administrator’s job “is to protect the environment and he has walked away 100 percent from that saying, ‘The environment doesn't need protection. I'm going to try to protect jobs.’ That's not his job.”
On another hot-button topic, gun control, Bloomberg defended his involvement and funding with state-level gun control groups.
"I think there's no leadership on keeping guns out of the hands of criminals, minors, and people with psychiatric problems, which this country should be ashamed that we're not doing,” he charged.
"What we're focusing on is more at the state level, and we've got 18 states that have enacted gun background checks, a 19th state that has voted for it . In those states, suicide rate with guns, for example, is half the national average. This really does make a difference."
Bloomberg said he’s not running for president “at the moment” — but has a platform as a private citizen, including job-focused public education and “building alliances around the world.”
“I think the president of the United States should do those things but he's not or she's not the only one that can do those things,” he added.
© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.