The White House will not say whether it trusts World Bank President David Malpass
Categories: US NEWS
TheWhite House will not say whether it trusts World Bank President David Malpass
A growingnumber of White House officials publicly criticizing Trump-appointed WorldBank President David Malpass as he spoke about climate change. Wascriticized for dodging a question. Malpass has faced calls to resign afterappearing on a panel during which he did not directly answer whether heaccepted the scientific consensus that the burning of fossil fuels is fuelingclimate change, saying "I don't even know - I'm not a scientist andthat is not a question." The comments have further motivated WhiteHouse officials who have long pushed for his ouster and moved other, more circumspectadministration officials closer to that position, according to two sources.
PresidentJoe Biden has so far declined to answer whether he still has confidence in theWorld Bank head. And White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre on Fridayexpressed disagreement with Malpass' climate comments. President Joe Bidenhas so far declined to answer whether he still has confidence in the World Bankhead. And White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre on Friday expresseddisagreement with Malpass' climate comments.
"Wedisagree with the comments made by President Malpass. We expect the World Bankto be a global leader in climate ambition and mobilization as well," Jean-Pierre told reporters onFriday. International financial institutions have been and will continue tomake that expectation clear to the leadership of the World Bank."
Asked laterwhether that meant she was refusing to say whether the president had confidencein Malpass, Jean-Pierre said, "I said very clearly where we stand onthat. " John Podesta, a top climate adviser to Biden, told Reuters onFriday that Malpass should say nothing of the scientific consensus aboutclimate change.
Malpass'possible expulsion has been a long-running debate, given the internaladministration's debate about how climate advocates - inside and outside theadministration - have always viewed his stance. But it is also not clear howthey will kick him out.
Malpass hasfaced calls to resign since his comments at a panel discussion on Tuesday atClimate Week in New York City, where he dodged a question over whether heaccepted the scientific consensus that humans burning fossil fuels were "rapidlyand dangerously warming the planet." On Thursday, he told Chatterley: "Idon't always do the best job in answering the questions or hearing what thequestions are."