Kudlow panelists Jackie DeAngelis, Mark Simon and Carolyn Downey react to President-elect Donald Trump calling out the Democrats' radical climate plan.
Freshman Sen. Jim Justice began his first week on the job by warning that America faces a “crisis” unless the country addresses its energy policies — and quickly. But he expressed confidence in two of the candidates President-elect Trump has chosen to solve the problem.
Republican of West VirginiaSworn in days later than other senators to complete his term as governor, he sits on the upper chamber's Energy and Natural Resources Committee, which held confirmation hearings on Trump's picks to lead the Department of Energy and the Department. This week's country
Jim Justice, then-governor of West Virginia and Republican U.S. senator-elect, arrives for the Senate Republican leadership vote at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC, U.S., Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024. (Graeme Sloane/Bloomberg via Getty Images/Getty Images)
Trump's nominees for energy secretary were Liberty Energy CEO Chris Wright and the president's pick for interior secretary was North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum. Nicknamed “Dream Team” by Christopher Barnard, president of the American Conservation Coalition (ACC), when their nominations were announced in November.
At Wright's hearing Wednesday, Justice said, “America has a big, big crisis in front of them. If we don't solve this puzzle a year and a half from now, we're going to have a crisis like you can't imagine. “
In an interview with FOX Business After the meeting, Justice explained, citing the country's staggering debt, geopolitical threats, and increasing demand for energy, including for the data centers needed to power artificial intelligence.
Increasing energy production in the United States is the solution to “all of the above,” he said.
West Virginia Governor Jim Justice speaks on stage with his dog, Babydog, during the second day of the Republican National Convention at the Fiserv Forum on July 16, 2024 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images/Getty Images)
He said: “You have to have an energy strategy, and you have to be on a path where America leads the world in energy.” In my opinion, energy is the key to everything here, everything: Resolves swelling. It reduces the war – from Russia's point of view, it solves absolutely everything – and with that said, if we can't get it to that level. “Seriously, we are making a bad mistake in this country.”
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Adalat, a billionaire coal businessman, stressed at Wright's hearing that while it is important to pursue a variety of energy sources, it is not yet time to move away from fossil fuels.
“We need to embrace all forms of energy. But with that said, the moment you fully believe that we can do without fossil fuels in this world today, you're living in a cave. You're totally in “You live in a cave,” he said. “In my opinion, we don't need to take our legs off so that China or India can dominate in different ways.” Justice was then interrupted by a protester.
Chris Wright, chief executive of Liberty Energy and US President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for secretary of energy, arrives for a confirmation hearing of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee in Washington, DC, on Wednesday. (Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images/Getty Images)
Wright agreed with Justice about embracing all forms of energy, and said Trump does too. “100%,” the senator told FOX Business when asked about Wright's chances of being confirmed.
Justice was also highly praised For my borg After the nomination meeting on Thursday. These two are friends.
Former President Donald Trump, then Republican presidential candidate, speaks with North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum during the third day of the Republican National Convention at the Fiserv Forum on July 17, 2024 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Scott Olson/Getty Images/Getty Images)
“Americans need to know that they have someone who has spent time enjoying the outdoors, not a bureaucrat who has never set foot in a duck blind,” Justice told FOX Business afterward.
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The senator noted that he has known Burgum for a long time. When Justice was governor, he and Borgham often worked together on ways to empower their states through natural resources, and they bonded over their mutual love of conservation.
The senator added: “President Trump nominated Burgum as governor.”