Greta Thunberg to Trump over ‘young, angry person’ remark: ‘I think the world needs…’
June 11, 2025 — Stockholm/Washington DC
Environmental activist Greta Thunberg has once again responded to former U.S. President Donald Trump — this time addressing his recent dig where he referred to her as a “young, angry person.” In her trademark unapologetic tone, Thunberg fired back: “Yes, I am angry. Because anger, when directed at injustice, becomes a force for change. The world needs more of it.”
The comment from Trump came during a conservative political rally in Houston, where he referenced unnamed young climate activists “yelling doom and gloom” and said, “These young, angry people need to calm down, maybe go back to school, and learn how the real world works.”
Although he didn’t mention Thunberg by name, the implication was clear. The Swedish climate advocate — who rose to global prominence at age 15 for initiating the Fridays for Future movement — has long been a target of Trump’s dismissive rhetoric.
Hours later, Thunberg took to X (formerly Twitter) with a simple but stinging response:
“Anger is a reaction to injustice. I’m angry because we are running out of time and leaders still ignore science. If that’s a problem, I hope there are more of us.”
A History of Verbal Sparring
This is not the first time Greta Thunberg and Donald Trump have clashed in the public sphere. Their feud dates back to 2019, when Trump sarcastically tweeted about Thunberg after her passionate address at the United Nations Climate Action Summit. At the time, he wrote, “She seems like a very happy young girl looking forward to a bright and wonderful future. So nice to see!”
In response, Thunberg changed her Twitter bio to reflect his words — a move that was hailed as both witty and defiant.
Since then, the two have engaged in a series of indirect jabs, with Thunberg doubling down on her climate activism and Trump continuing to ridicule environmental movements, often referring to them as “job killers” and “alarmists.”
Public Figures Rally Behind Thunberg
Following her recent response, a wave of support poured in from across the globe. Notable environmental scientists, world leaders, and youth activists voiced solidarity with Thunberg.
Bill McKibben, founder of 350.org, wrote on social media: “Anger that leads to action is the best kind of fuel in the climate movement. Greta speaks for millions.”
Indian environmentalist Vandana Shiva added: “Greta’s anger is not a tantrum. It is the voice of truth. It comes from love for the Earth and future generations.”
Even U.S. political figures weighed in. Senator Bernie Sanders retweeted Thunberg’s statement with the caption: “She’s right. It’s time we all got a little more angry — and a lot more active — about the climate crisis.”
The Role of Righteous Anger in Activism
Thunberg has never shied away from expressing frustration — a quality that some critics, like Trump, view as youthful arrogance. But many experts argue that her tone is precisely what has drawn attention to the climate crisis in the first place.
In a 2024 interview with Der Spiegel, Thunberg remarked: “We are told not to be angry, not to raise our voice. But when you are facing an emergency, silence is complicity.”
Her approach has resonated with a generation that is increasingly disillusioned with traditional politics and fed up with slow-moving climate policies. Young people across the globe have joined school strikes, community cleanups, and protests demanding stronger environmental action — many of them inspired directly by Thunberg’s courage to speak truth to power.
Trump’s Response: A Shrug and a Smirk
In typical fashion, Donald Trump downplayed the incident. Speaking to Fox News the next day, he said, “She’s free to be angry. I just don’t think anger solves anything. Maybe she should take a nice vacation — enjoy her youth.”
Critics immediately pointed out the irony. “Telling a young activist to stop worrying while the planet burns is exactly the kind of attitude that got us into this mess,” environmental policy expert Dr. Lisa Carter commented.
She added: “The climate movement isn’t driven by emotion alone — it’s backed by data, science, and a deep understanding of injustice. Greta Thunberg’s voice is not just loud — it’s informed.”
A Broader Message
Thunberg’s larger point wasn’t just a rebuttal to Trump — it was a call for more people to get involved. In a follow-up post, she wrote:
“We need more people who are angry about injustice, inequality, and destruction. We need more people who refuse to stay silent. Not for themselves, but for the planet, for future generations, for those who don’t have a voice.”
This message was met with global engagement, sparking renewed discussions on how emotional responses — especially from the youth — are often dismissed or mocked, particularly when challenging power structures.
Moving Forward
As climate disasters become more frequent — from deadly heatwaves in Asia to wildfires across Europe and North America — Thunberg’s warnings are no longer abstract. She has often emphasized that her activism is not about personal fame but about sounding the alarm on an issue that affects everyone, especially vulnerable communities.
She remains a leading voice in climate policy discussions, often invited to international forums and panels. Yet she continues to emphasize grassroots action: “Real change doesn’t come from polite conversations in glass buildings,” she once said. “It comes from people refusing to give up.”
Conclusion
In a world increasingly defined by political spin and superficial gestures, Greta Thunberg’s directness stands out. Whether labeled as angry or not, she represents a generation unwilling to accept delay or denial. Her message to Trump — and to the world — is clear: anger, when rooted in justice, is not a weakness. It’s a catalyst.
