Trump Says He Didn't Call Climate Change A Hoax

Republican nominee Donald Trump Monday denied saying things he has previously said about climate change.

Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton mentioned during the presidential debate that that creating clean energy jobs is part of her economic recovery plan. She criticized Trump for dismissing climate change as a hoax that the Chinese government created.

“I did not say that,” Trump interjected.

Except, he did:

Trump also has said there is “still much that needs to be investigated in the field of ‘climate change.’” And he has called global warming “bullshit.”

In fact, he’s said many times that climate change is a hoax.

“We invested in a solar company in our country,” said Trump. “That was a disaster.” He went on to say that he’s “a great believer in all forms of energy.”

Outside of Solyndra and a few other high-profile bankruptcies, the government loan guarantee program for clean energy has been pretty successful, and was on track to bring in $5 billion in interest payments.

Later in the debate, Trump criticized Clinton for listing climate change as a major security threat to the United States.

The Pentagon has warned that climate change is a threat multiplier abroad, and climate effects threaten at least 18 military sites, according a recent study. A National Intelligence Assessment conducted during President George W. Bush’s administration concluded that climate change would create national security problems.

Debate moderator Lester Holt didn’t specifically ask about climate change. The candidates brought it up on their own.

This article has been updated to include Trump’s criticism of Clinton for considering climate change a major security threat.

Editor’s note: Donald Trump regularly incites political violence and is a serial liar, rampant xenophobe, racist, misogynist and birther who has repeatedly pledged to ban all Muslims — 1.6 billion members of an entire religion — from entering the U.S.