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President Donald Trump walks to the Oval Office of the White House Thursday after speaking in the Rose Garden about the U.S. role in the Paris climate change accord.
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The White House explains: Why did Trump invoke Pittsburgh?

Andrew Harnik/Associated Press

The White House explains: Why did Trump invoke Pittsburgh?

In explaining his decision to withdraw the U.S. from the Paris climate agreement, President Donald Trump invoked Pittsburgh, saying: “I was elected to represent the citizens of Pittsburgh, not Paris.”

The question quickly arose after his Thursday speech: Why Pittsburgh?

Later Thursday night, the White House answered.

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“President Trump’s speech today was the culmination of a long-standing campaign promise,” a White House spokesperson said. “The people of Pittsburgh, like other hardworking American families across the country, are the people he is fighting for and who know that in this administration America comes first.”

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The president’s remarks drew the ire of politicians from both cities Mr. Trump mentioned, with Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto and Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo criticizing the speech and the administration’s decision to pull from the global accord.

First Published: June 2, 2017, 12:32 a.m.

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