Trump’s ‘no more drilling’ attack on Talarico is misleading

Donald Trump’s claim that James Talarico’s criticism of fossil fuels means an end to new oil drilling in Texas is misleading. It leaves out the Democratic Senate candidate’s stated policy of supporting oil and gas alongside renewable energy. [1] [2] [3]

In a Truth Social post dated 16 October 2026, preserved by Trump’s Truth, the president quoted Talarico as saying fossil fuels were destroying the planet, then added: “In other words, no more drilling for Oil in Texas.” The drilling claim was Trump’s own conclusion, not part of the quotation he attributed to Talarico. [1]

Trump also praised Talarico’s Republican opponent, Texas attorney general Ken Paxton, and said the remark should end the Democrat’s campaign. The Senate election is on 3 November. [1] [6] [7]

At a CNN/Jubilee town hall in Fort Worth on 14 October, Talarico said he wanted to protect well-paid oil and gas jobs while investing in wind, solar and other energy technologies. “I will stand up to my own party if they mess with our oil and gas industry,” he said. He also pledged to defend renewables against interference from the other party. [2]

His campaign’s energy platform makes a similar commitment and calls for faster permitting for energy projects without compromising environmental protections. [3]

The earlier climate record

Trump called the fossil-fuels remark recent but gave no date. In a report published on 22 September, the Texas Tribune attributed the same words to a February 2022 discussion of the deadly 2021 Winter Storm Uri. In that discussion, according to the report, Talarico acknowledged the industry’s economic contribution, including to his own family, while calling for a transition to cleaner energy. [7]

The president had already made a related accusation in September, claiming in a separate video reported by the newspaper that Talarico would vote to abolish the Texas oil and gas industry. [7]

Talarico’s earlier climate ambitions were substantial. In February 2021, he introduced the Texas Climate Action Act, H.B. 2206, which would have required statewide greenhouse gas emissions to fall at least 50% below 1990 levels by 2030 and at least 90% below that baseline by 2050. Those percentages concerned emissions, not oil output or the number of wells. [4] [5]

The bill acknowledged possible job losses during a green transition and sought similarly paid new opportunities for affected workers. It contained no explicit blanket ban on drilling and never became law: its last recorded action was referral to the House Environmental Regulation Committee on 15 March 2021. [4] [5]

Defending the proposal in a CBS News Texas interview, Talarico argued that emissions controls could coexist with industry growth, citing carbon capture. “There are ways that we can support our oil and gas industry while limiting those emissions,” he said. [8]

Talarico’s support for the industry does not settle which new drilling projects he would back. But Trump’s categorical “no more drilling” conclusion goes beyond the climate remark and misrepresents the energy mix Talarico is campaigning on. [1] [2] [3]