Democratic presidential contender and businessman Tom Steyer discussed on Monday global climate change, gun control and how he would beat President Donald Trump in his speech at “Politics & Eggs” in New Hampshire.
From the beginning of his speech, Steyer said he is running for president because he believes the government is “broken” and is being run by big corporations.
“I just don’t want companies to write the rules,” he said. “I want the government to work for the people of the United States and let the private sector work within the rules that serve the people.”
A champion for remedying climate change, Steyer made climate change the no. 1 focus of his campaign. He said to the crowd that it is America’s responsibility to lead the rest of the world in battling the global crisis.
“We have to do it. We can do it,” he said. “I guarantee you we can do it in a way that cleans up the air and water, particularly in the black and brown communities that have air you can’t breathe and water that comes out of the tap that will make you sick.”
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The 62-year-old billionaire philanthropist also touched upon his 2017 campaign to impeach President Donald Trump. An outspoken critic of the president, Steyer said he is the best candidate who can actually beat Trump because of his 30 years of experience in business.
“I feel like I have unique experience and expertise in terms of pointing out the fact that Mr. Trump is actually a fake business person and a failed business person,” he said. “He actually played a business person on a reality TV show and he is actually a terrible steward of the American economy.”
According to Steyer, the embattled president will make his 2020 campaign focus on the economy.
“His campaign shtick is ‘I’m a criminal who hates 80% of America, but you can’t afford to get rid of me,’” the Democrat said.
Moving on to gun violence, Steyer said he believes in upholding the Second Amendment but also wants to protect the people of the United States.
“I don’t want to take away people’s rights to own guns. I’m a gun owner, too,” he said. “But I want to make sure we do it in a much, much, much safer way.”
Steyer proposed stronger background checks for prospective gun owners, registering assault weapons and holding more voluntary buybacks of firearms to keep less guns out in the streets. He said he does not believe that his proposals infringe on anyone’s rights.
The California Democrat announced his presidential nomination in July after he previously said he would focus on his impeachment effort instead of seeking the Oval Office.
