In a recent VTDigger interview, Vermont Attorney General Charity Clark expressed grave concerns over a potential Trump administration, describing imminent threats from mass deportations, attacks on reproductive rights, and environmental rollbacks. While such claims have a familiar ring, closer examination suggests they align closely with the “Project 2025” narrative pushed by the Biden-Harris campaign—painting routine conservative policies as an existential crisis.

Does this rhetoric serve Vermonters, or is it a public display of alarmism?

AG Clark’s Claims: Fear Over Facts?

1. Mass Deportations
   • Clark warns of a national roundup of undocumented individuals, claiming that Trump would indiscriminately target immigrant communities. However, according to statements from Tom Homan, the incoming Border Czar, enforcement focuses on public safety threats, like those with criminal convictions. There’s no indication of blanket “mass deportations,” as Clark suggests.
     • Quote from Homan:“The priority… is public safety threats and national security threats… We have over 700,000 illegal aliens with criminal convictions.” (YouTube)
     • Clark’s framing lacks grounding, and instead of informing the public, it risks fueling unnecessary fear.
2. Reproductive Rights
   • The AG asserts that Trump will dismantle reproductive rights, implying sweeping federal restrictions. In reality, Project 2025 emphasizes federalism, suggesting that issues like abortion remain under state control. To date, Trump has consistently advocated for states’ rights on this issue, not a national ban.
   • Project 2025’s Stance:
     • Support for returning power to states on social policy, allowing localized control over divisive issues. By framing this as a federal attack, Clark amplifies an alarmist message unsupported by the actual policy framework.
3. Environmental Rollbacks: A Mischaracterization of Trump’s Record
   • Clark portrays a returning Trump administration as poised to dismantle environmental protections entirely, but Trump’s actual record from his first term tells a different story. While his administration pursued deregulation, the changes were aimed at refining and streamlining existing laws—not abandoning environmental protections.
     • Deregulation for Balance: Trump’s replacement of the Clean Power Plan with the Affordable Clean Energy (ACE) rule gave states more control over emissions standards, emphasizing flexibility over rigid federal mandates.
     • Paris Agreement Context: Trump’s withdrawal from the Paris Agreement was motivated by concerns about economic fairness. Importantly, U.S. emissions declined during his term, driven by market forces and state-level efforts.
     • Global Emissions Context:
       • China remains the world’s largest emitter, producing 12 billion metric tons of CO₂ annually, with a 0.2% increase in 2024, adding 24 million metric tons. Associated Press
       • India, a rapidly industrializing nation, produces 2.9 billion metric tons annually, with a 4.6% increase in 2024, adding 133 million metric tons. Associated Press
       • The United States, by contrast, has reduced emissions by 0.6% in 2024, dropping its total to 4.7 billion metric tons annually. Associated Press
   • Providing Perspective
     • Clark’s framing ignores that the U.S. is the only major emitter achieving meaningful declines, even after withdrawing from the Paris Agreement. Meanwhile, Paris Agreement signatories China and India continue to increase their emissions. Alarmism about U.S. environmental policy disregards these global dynamics and fails to acknowledge the nuanced progress made during Trump’s first term

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Attorney General’s Role: Facts Over Fear, Safety Over Speculation

As Vermont’s top law enforcement officer, Attorney General Charity Clark holds a position of significant trust and responsibility. Her role requires a commitment to factual accuracy and measured communication, especially when addressing sensitive national issues. However, her recent comments in the VTDigger interview lean heavily on conjecture rather than grounded, evidence-based analysis.

1. A Duty to Focus on Facts:As a licensed attorney and Vermont’s Attorney General, Clark is bound by ethical standards that prioritize integrity and accountability. Speculative claims about “mass deportations” and “breaking the law” risk creating unnecessary fear among Vermonters, undermining her role as a trusted legal authority.
2. Safety of Vermonters:The AG’s primary responsibility is to ensure the safety of Vermont residents. If the federal government identifies dangerous individuals—such as the 700,000 undocumented immigrants with criminal convictions highlighted by Tom Homan—it would seem logical for the AG to assist in those efforts. Clark’s stance appears to place political rhetoric above public safety, a concerning position for someone tasked with protecting Vermonters from harm.Quote from Homan:“If those orders [of removal] aren’t carried out… shut down the immigration court, because the judge’s order doesn’t mean anything anymore.” (YouTube) By opposing federal enforcement efforts aimed at removing dangerous individuals, Clark risks prioritizing partisanship over the well-being of her constituents.

VTDigger’s Role: Amplifying an Alarmist Narrative

VTDigger claims to provide nonpartisan, fact-based reporting.

Dave Soulia | FYIVT

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