Trump signs bill to overturn California bid to ban gasoline-powered cars
President Donald Trump signed into law measures to overturn California’s efforts to ban the sale of gasoline-powered vehicles, a plan he called a “horrible little scheme.”
Before he took office in January, Trump said, “The government gave the left-wing radicals in California dictatorial powers to control the future of the entire car industry all over the country, all over the world actually,” referring to the state’s governor as “Gov. Gavin Newscum.”
Newsom, Trump said, “was killing the auto industry. I don’t think he knew it.”
Trump signed the bills Thursday in an elaborate White House ceremony, surrounded by Cabinet officials and Republican congressional leaders. He singled out Reps. Kevin Kiley, R-Roseville, and Doug LaMalfa, R-Chico, for special praise for their roles in pushing the legislation.
He used the event to bash California, a favorite target for years. “They did open borders, men playing in women’s sports, transgender for everybody…what a group of people you had over there. They must have hated our country,” he said, adding, “They have the most ridiculous laws I’ve ever seen for a lot of things. “
It’s highly unusual for federal legislation to target the policies of a single state, but Republican lawmakers maintained that unless Washington stops California, its policies could spread across the nation.
Kiley praises new bills
“Today marks a victory for freedom, affordability and common sense. We have officially reversed an extreme and unworkable mandate from Governor Newsom that would have harmed millions of people in California and across the country,” Kiley said.
California’s policy, backed by the Biden administration, “effectively allowed one state’s woke agenda to dictate national policy. It’s not the government’s role to decide what vehicle Americans must drive,” said House Republican Conference Chair Lisa McClain, R-Michigan.
Republicans were also furious at the timing of the California actions. A month before leaving office, the Biden administration permitted the state to take the steps to proceed with vehicle emissions.
Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso, R-Wyoming, called the decision “a classic case of midnight meddling. Republicans weren’t fooled.”
Democrats were furious. “Donald Trump just stripped California’s clean air standards. Why? Because he doesn’t care about the health and safety of our communities. He only cares about big oil donors and polluters , all the while he’s ceding our clean energy economy to China,” said Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., on an X post.
Among the newly enacted bills was an end to the sale of new gasoline-powered vehicles by 2035. The policy would be phased in, and by model year 2026, 35% of new cars sold in the state would have to have zero emissions. Thirty-five House Democrats joined Republicans to back that measure.
Congress also approved two other measures blocking Biden administration decisions affecting emissions in the state.
Changes affecting trucks, too
One would bar California from imposing its most recent nitrogen oxide (NOx) engine emission standards. Another bill would stop California from enforcing its decision to require truck makers to sell zero-emission trucks.
Trump spoke for nearly an hour, jumping from topic to topic. At one point, he addressed his on-and-off relationship with billionaire Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla electric cars.
Trump said he asked about the impact on Musk’s electric car business. “He said as long as I’m on the same plane as everybody else we’re going to do good.” Trump said. “After that he got a little bit strange over much smaller things than that.” Musk and Trump feuded last week but appear to have healed the relationship.
The ceremony also featured people affected by overturning the ban.
The bills are “about consumer choice and affordability for American families. Every American should be able to choose what they want to drive, not the government,” John Hess, chief executive officer of the Hess Corporation, an energy company, told the audience.
This story was originally published June 12, 2025 at 12:57 PM with the headline "Trump signs bill to overturn California bid to ban gasoline-powered cars."
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