Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, John Kerry, engaged in a heated exchange with House lawmakers during a committee hearing on Thursday, defending himself against criticism of his use of a private jet that emitted a substantial amount of carbon. Despite advocating for stringent climate change rules, Kerry’s travel on a private jet owned by Flying Squirrel LLC, a charter company connected to his wife, has drawn significant backlash.
In response to Republican Representative Cory Mills’ comment about Kerry’s private jet usage, the envoy vehemently denied owning or operating a private jet. However, Kerry did not deny traveling on a private jet. He dismissed the topic, stating it was foolish to discuss arriving in a private jet from the State Department.
“I just don’t agree with your facts, which began with the presentation of one of the most outrageously persistent lies that I hear, which is this private jet,” Kerry said during a House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing. “We don’t own a private jet. I don’t own a private jet. I personally have never owned a private jet. And obviously, it’s pretty stupid to talk about coming in a private jet from the State Department up here. I just honestly, if that’s where you want to go, go.”
Recent reporting by Fox News Digital revealed that the Kerry family jet, a Gulfstream GIV-SP, had made 48 trips, emitting approximately 325 metric tons of carbon since President Biden’s inauguration. Although Kerry’s spokesperson claimed the family had sold the jet in 2022, questions regarding his environmental credibility persisted.
Kerry has previously defended his use of private jets, citing the necessity of traveling to meet people and accomplish his climate change objectives. He has claimed to offset his carbon consumption. However, conservatives criticized his statements, arguing that his actions contradicted his advocacy for climate change mitigation.
During the hearing, Kerry admitted that his wife owned a private plane but maintained that he exclusively flew commercially. When pressed further about his private jet usage during the Biden administration, he reluctantly acknowledged having flown on a private jet “possibly once.”
In response to the controversy, Representative Andy Biggs took to Twitter, sarcastically remarking, “He doesn’t own one but he sure does use one!” Conservatives online echoed these sentiments, questioning Kerry’s environmental commitment.
A spokesperson for the State Department defended Kerry, stating that he never owned a private jet, regularly flew commercially, and actively collaborated on initiatives such as the First Movers Coalition. This coalition aimed to encourage major airlines like Delta and United to invest in sustainable aviation fuels to reduce greenhouse pollution.
Despite Kerry’s forceful denial of owning a private jet, his acknowledgment of using one in the past undermines his credibility as a climate change advocate. The controversy surrounding his private jet usage raises concerns about the sincerity of his commitment to combatting climate change and underscores the apparent hypocrisy between his words and actions.
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— Dave Portnoy (@stoolpresidente) July 17, 2023
