Trump Says He Backs Permitting Bill '100 Percent' but Will Not Approve Wind Turbines; Schiff and King Question Their Votes

Since the Senate voted 73–25 on Monday, Nov. 9 to open debate on the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act, the bill's biggest complication has come from its own endorser. Earlier that day at the White House podium, President Donald Trump said he is behind the bill "100 percent" and that he will not approve wind turbines.

"The permitting bill is a great bill that's supposed to be bipartisan. We are behind it 100 percent," Trump told reporters.

A reporter then noted that wind provisions are part of the bill. "I know, but I won't approve it," Trump said. "The bill hasn't been fully negotiated. I will not approve wind turbines because wind turbines are a major loser."

The vote count and the walk-backs

The cloture vote came Monday night. Twenty-two Democrats voted yes. The vote only moves the bill forward and does not pass it.

Some senators have since said the president's remarks affect where they stand on later votes. Sen. Angus King (I-Maine) said: "The president made an unfortunate statement this afternoon about wind power that undermines my confidence in the good faith of the administration, so that will influence my vote as well."

Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) said he is not supporting the bill after the comments. "I think it's a pretty clear indication that he has not changed course in any way when it comes to renewable energy, and any wiggle room left in the bill to prioritize oil and gas over renewables he'll make full use of," Schiff told Politico on the Senate floor.

Politico reported that many Democrats in both chambers have said their votes are contingent on the bill supporting clean energy projects.

What the White House says

A White House official told Newsweek that Trump "stands 100% behind" the bill and reiterated that Monday. "The White House has been working in good faith with Senate Democrats for months to get this bill passed which will unleash American energy and lower costs," the official said. "The time for permitting reform is now."

The administration also acted on wind permits the same day. After blocking dozens of wind approvals for months, it has allowed a limited number in recent weeks while the text was negotiated. White House officials say those approvals were meant to show good faith. On Monday, ahead of the vote, it approved 10 more onshore wind projects, in Texas, Illinois, Iowa, South Dakota, Kansas and Washington.

Trump's remarks leave open what he means by "approve." He did not say whether he would sign a bill that contains wind provisions or whether he would withhold permits for projects under it. Politico described the statement as a vow that the administration would not approve wind permits.

Trump's wind record

Trump's opposition is long-standing. In July 2025 he said, "We will not allow a windmill to be built in the United States. They're killing us."

In October, he signed a proclamation following a Commerce Department investigation under the Trade Expansion Act of 1962. Trump wrote that Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick found wind turbines and their components are being imported in ways that "threaten to impair the national security of the United States."

The issues cited include cybersecurity risks in turbine components, reliance on foreign manufacturers, grid intermittency, and radar interference affecting air traffic control, weather forecasting and defense missions. Trump wrote that he "may consider alternative remedies in the future," and by law he could act 180 days after the proclamation if he finds not enough progress has been made.

The bill itself

The 417-page bill was introduced in September by Democratic Sens. Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island and Martin Heinrich of New Mexico and Republican Sens. Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia and Mike Lee of Utah. It covers transmission, natural gas, oil, geothermal, hydropower and renewables. An analysis by the Environmental Policy Innovation Center identifies provisions affecting onshore and offshore wind and solar.

It would also require large data center operators to carry more of the transmission and grid-upgrade costs needed to serve them. It includes protections meant to keep other ratepayers from being stuck with those costs if projects fail.

Oil and clean energy companies and trade groups have lobbied for passage. Earthjustice, the Sierra Club and the ACLU oppose it, and Indigenous groups have said it weakens tribal consultation requirements.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, expected to be speaker in the new Congress, said the bill "falls short in several areas," including tribal sovereignty. He said he would not "rubber-stamp legislation without more constructive involvement with our caucus."

Asked whether he would help whip House votes, Trump said, "Well, we may see."

What comes next

Heinrich and Whitehouse said earlier Monday they had the votes to pass the bill. Newsweek said it contacted their offices about how Trump's remarks might affect the legislation. The cloture vote was the first of several procedural votes, and no further Senate vote date appears in the available reporting.

The newly elected Democrats do not take their seats until January, so the bill could technically clear both chambers before then. The open question is whether the 22 Democrats who voted for cloture hold their position on the final votes after the president's statement on wind.