Trump Overturns California’s Ban on Gas-Powered Car Sales by 2035

On Thursday, President Trump signed a measure that nullifies California’s plan to prohibit the sale of new gas-powered vehicles by 2035. California officials immediately announced their intention to challenge the move in court, with the state’s attorney general holding a press conference even before the signing event concluded.

The measure, previously approved by Congress, targets what has been considered the most ambitious attempt in the country to transition away from traditional combustion-engine vehicles. In addition to stopping the 2035 ban, Trump also signed off on actions that roll back other state-level efforts aimed at limiting tailpipe emissions and curbing pollution from diesel trucks.

Calling the regulations “crazy,” Trump criticized California’s environmental rules during the signing ceremony, claiming they’ve negatively impacted the nation. His actions come amid broader tensions with California leadership, particularly over recent federal troop deployments in Los Angeles related to immigration protests.

California’s Democratic leadership has vowed to fight back, citing more than two dozen legal battles already underway over federal decisions. The state’s attorney general said the new federal actions are both unlawful and politically motivated, arguing they jeopardize public health.

The new measures will effectively stop California’s attempt to phase out new gas-powered vehicles and certain diesel-powered trucks, and reverse rules targeting emissions from heavy-duty vehicles. While Trump raised concerns about electric vehicles’ reliability, he made favorable remarks about Tesla, despite past tensions with its CEO.

In a wide-ranging speech, Trump also spoke about wind energy, electric boats, and even joked about hypothetical scenarios involving electrocution or shark attacks. He reiterated his preference for gasoline engines but said consumers should have the freedom to choose electric if they wish.

Supporters of the decision argue the California regulations were financially burdensome and unrealistic. One convenience store owner at the event said the state’s rules would have forced businesses like his to install expensive infrastructure without adequate return.

An industry group representing major automakers also backed the move, calling California’s mandates unachievable.

California officials, including the governor, condemned the decision, calling it a direct attack on clean air efforts and the state’s economy. They vowed legal action to prevent what they describe as federal overreach influenced by polluting industries.

This step aligns with broader goals laid out by Trump to support domestic oil and gas development and scale back environmental regulations. Just a day earlier, the federal government proposed eliminating limits on greenhouse gas emissions from fossil-fuel-powered plants.

Environmental advocates sharply criticized the actions, accusing the administration of favoring corporate interests over public health. California, which has historically set stricter emissions standards with federal approval, has been a leader in pushing for cleaner transportation. While a prior attempt during Trump’s first term to revoke the state’s authority was reversed under President Biden, Trump has not yet tried to challenge it again.

Despite legal opinions suggesting that federal law protects California’s ability to set its own standards, Republican lawmakers used a legislative tool aimed at overseeing agency regulations to try to override the rules. However, independent government legal experts have indicated that this method is unlikely to hold up in court.

California, which accounts for about 11% of the national vehicle market, has a strong influence on the direction of the automotive industry. A dozen other states have aligned with California’s clean vehicle standards and are likely to be affected by the rollback.