Eric Trump, de Blasio get in heated exchange over New York City’s Green New Deal

by Justin Wise - 05/14/19 4:38 PM ET

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio (D) and President Trump’s son Eric Trump got into a heated exchange this week over how new legislation aimed at combating climate change could impact the Trump Organization.

The two traded blows on Twitter after de Blasio warned on Monday that the Trump Organization could face fines of $2 million per year starting in 2030 if its buildings do not reduce their carbon emissions.{mosads}

The fines would come as part of the city’s Green New Deal, an effort to reduce emissions by 30 percent by 2030. A citywide law, which is set to take effect on Friday, establishes tighter emissions standards for larger buildings.

“The fact that the Mayor of a major city would attack an iconic organization (which employs thousands of hardworking New York taxpayers) for his own political gain is an abuse of power, unethical and simply counterintuitive,” Eric Trump, who serves as an executive vice president of the Trump Organization, wrote on Twitter.

(1/4) The fact that the Mayor of a major city would attack an iconic organization (which employs thousands of hardworking New York taxpayers) for his own political gain is an abuse of power, unethical and simply counterintuitive. @NYCMayor

— Eric Trump (@EricTrump) May 13, 2019

De Blasio, who is considering launching a 2020 Democratic presidential bid, dismissed Trump’s criticism on Twitter, saying that the city’s climate initiative was one law the Trump family “won’t get away with breaking.”

“Spare me,” the New York City mayor tweeted. “You and your dad have spent decades evading taxes and stiffing your workers. NYC’s Green New Deal is one law the Trumps won’t get away with breaking. Fix your buildings or pay the price.”

Spare me. You and your dad have spent decades evading taxes and stiffing your workers.

NYC’s Green New Deal is one law the Trumps won’t get away with breaking.

Fix your buildings or pay the price. https://t.co/NZdqbWQF7T

— Mayor Bill de Blasio (@NYCMayor) May 13, 2019

Trump later shot back that New York “has gone to shit” under de Blasio’s leadership.

“Spare me?” Trump asked. “First you have never created a job in your life. Second, our great city has gone to shit under your leadership. Crime is up, the men & women of the NYPD detest you, homelessness is rampant, our streets are dirty and people are leaving our city in record numbers.”

Spare me? First you have never created a job in your life. Second, our great city has gone to shit under your leadership. Crime is up, the men & women of the NYPD detest you, homelessness is rampant, our streets are dirty and people are leaving our city in record numbers. https://t.co/3Fn1glQJEa

— Eric Trump (@EricTrump) May 14, 2019

De Blasio used the lobby of the Trump Tower in New York City on Monday to promote the city’s Green New Deal initiative.

“It doesn’t matter who you are, even the president of the United States, you have to obey the laws of New York City,” de Blasio said at a press conference that was filled with demonstrators protesting against the mayor, according to Reuters.

In addition to the press conference, de Blasio tweeted that President Trump and his businesses were “on notice.”

“Donald: we won’t let you mortgage our future for your real estate. Fix your buildings or pay the price,” he tweeted.

.@realDonaldTrump is running scared from NYC’s Green New Deal. The temper tantrum his organization threw at Trump Tower today is proof.

You’re on notice, Donald: we won’t let you mortgage our future for your real estate. Fix your buildings or pay the price.

We WILL collect. pic.twitter.com/3wHT4gr2km

— Mayor Bill de Blasio (@NYCMayor) May 13, 2019