President Joe Biden landed himself in hot water after announcing the United States would be donating billions to South Africa to help replace coal plants with renewable energy.
During the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit, Biden said, “Today’s announcement joined a portfolio of Partnership for Global Infrastructure Investment projects already underway in Africa.” (00:00:29)
He added, “Including mobilizing $8 billion in public and private finance to help South Africa replace coal-fired power plants with renewable energy sources.”
Additionally, Biden said the funding would be used to “develop cutting edge energy solutions like clean hydrogen, a deal worth $2 billion to build solar energy projects in Angola, $600 million high-speed communications cables that will connect Southeast Asia to Europe via Egypt and the Horn of Africa and help bring high-speed internet connectivity to countries all along the way.”
Watch Biden’s remarks below:
Biden pledges U.S. taxpayers will pay South Africa $8 billion to shut down their coal power plants pic.twitter.com/p030ccAjTV
— Tom Elliott (@tomselliott) December 14, 2022
Critics were quick to express their frustration with the president.
One tweet declared Biden is “quite possibly the worst president ever.”
Biden is quite possibly the worst president ever. https://t.co/wyeBpuYdv6
— Jodi (@APLMom) December 15, 2022
Another suggested he is “diversifying his money laundering operation.”
https://twitter.com/thebradfordfile/status/1603189586267701250
Journalist Luke Rudkowski tweeted, “How much are we going to be paying China? And there’s only so much money you can print….”
How much are we going to be paying China 🇨🇳?
— Luke Rudkowski (@Lukewearechange) December 14, 2022
And there’s only so much money you can print…. https://t.co/d4MuO2XGNO
Read more reactions below:
Americans are struggling to buy gas and food and this damn POS is just giving away billions to whomever wants it. #ImpeachBiden https://t.co/EKuiJ21W3d
— victoria_rae (@victoriasouthe) December 15, 2022
https://twitter.com/CryHaviq/status/1603146086662737921
This is awfully suspect!!! https://t.co/pAuxY9tKCB
— AshMarie031447 (@AMarie031447) December 15, 2022
With his deranged energy policy, Biden is preparing grounds for the Sri Lanka-type situation in Africa. https://t.co/50eCcX7PIA
— Avatans Kumar 🕉 (@avatans) December 15, 2022
Weapon grade lunacy. As if South Africans haven’t suffered enough with unreliable energy. https://t.co/rrypTwwcV8
— Rita Panahi (@RitaPanahi) December 14, 2022
Are you f**king kidding me? https://t.co/zbhvGgYrsm
— Victory or Death 🇺🇸 (@IncognitoMeems) December 15, 2022
Developing nations should build as many coal plants as fast as possible so they can get in on this epic gravy train. https://t.co/BZ8FsuaiG0
— Year Zero (@Z3RO_Y34R) December 15, 2022
The New York Times previously noted that roughly 80 percent of South Africa’s electricity is powered by coal.
According to the Times, President Cyril Ramaphosa has publicly advocated for a transition to renewables.
However, his minister of mineral resources, Gwede Mantashe, declared coal will still be a prominent part of the country’s energy source for years to come.
While speaking at a climate summit in November, Ramaphosa urged developed countries to help with the cost of the transition.
“Our continent only contributed 1 percent of the damage that’s been done to the climate, and we believe that the more industrialized countries that are more developed need to live up to the commitment that they have made,” he said at the time.