As Texas suffers through record low temperatures, causing its power grid to fail in many places, many have been left without power.
This incredibly dangerous situation is complex and multi-faceted, but Donald Trump Jr. has a clear villain to attack.
In a tweet from February 16, the former President's son blamed Texas power outages on failing wind turbines, praising his father's prescience when the elder Trump bashed them.
I know someone who used to talk about how overrated wind turbines are. He said they do the most when you need them… https://t.co/IjQHeEZrwe— Donald Trump Jr. (@Donald Trump Jr.) 1613518156.0
Of course, the Texas power outages have as much to do with failing coal and natural gas power plants and an ill prepared power grid, but the Trumps have never hesitated to turn an emergency into a quick, petty power grab.
@DonaldJTrumpJr Wind farms are important. I dont agree with you guys here....— Andrew Michaelangelo (@Andrew Michaelangelo) 1613518255.0
@DonaldJTrumpJr Cokehead Jr, it’s clear you are referring to TX where wind turbines failed due to the severely cold… https://t.co/NqIicocKEK— Richard Montier (@Richard Montier) 1613528808.0
Many people also pointed out that wind turbines in traditionally colder areas are still running smoothly because they planned for the possibility of cold weather, unlike Texas.
@DonaldJTrumpJr Temperatures are 50 degrees below average because of climate change. Those wind turbines were not d… https://t.co/xqGniIBSMb— Elizabeth Davich (@Elizabeth Davich) 1613523214.0
@robertmahar @DonaldJTrumpJr They work in Antarctica just fine. https://t.co/RgaCULXCb3— JusticeBeforeUnity (@JusticeBeforeUnity) 1613519081.0
President Donald Trump never mentioned the effect cold would have on wind turbines...though he did falsely claim they caused cancer.
Wind turbines work year round in state's like Maine as well as in Antarctica and the Arctic Circle.
@DonaldJTrumpJr I know someone who used to talk about how wind turbines caused cancer. Don’t hear much from him anymore thank god.— Jazzwind (@Jazzwind) 1613519102.0
@DonaldJTrumpJr He also claimed they cause cancer. Was fixated with toilet flushing so, yeah I wouldn't be so overl… https://t.co/hjoWPaFI5x— The Smiling Catassin (@The Smiling Catassin) 1613518385.0
Texas might not have quite as many problems if it hadn't insisted on keeping itself separate from the national power grid.
@DonaldJTrumpJr This is a good time to note that the electrical grid in Texas was deregulated, privatized, and remo… https://t.co/f5CUUp93LB— Mark James (@Mark James) 1613518869.0
@DonaldJTrumpJr Yeah, didn't that guy get impeached twice and lead an violent insurrection against the United States of America?— Paul Lee Teeks (@Paul Lee Teeks) 1613519144.0
@KimMcolburn @DonaldJTrumpJr You do know that Texas is not on the National grid, right? Unlike other states, that a… https://t.co/PLrkCd9DRI— Peanut 🇺🇸⛾🎣🐶🐶🐶🐱 (@Peanut 🇺🇸⛾🎣🐶🐶🐶🐱) 1613519778.0
Many conservatives online have been blaming the power outages on the Green New Deal, a legislative proposal that has never been voted on and is definitely not the law in Texas.
Misinformation ran rampant among Texas Republicans.
I've had to make decisions about keeping food on the table or paying the electric bill. So many families are having… https://t.co/jAWVFuO6p5— Cori Bush (@Cori Bush) 1613570868.0
The tragedy of Texas' power grid failure is a complex one and Donald Trump Jr. blaming it all on wind turbines was definitely not his brightest moment.