Fact Check: Is Donald Trump's claim that solar panels kill all animals true?
LUBBOCK, TEXAS: With the midterm elections only a few days away, President Donald Trump, while campaigning for the Republicans in Texas, claimed that solar panels fry and kill all the animals. The claim has sparked mixed reactions online. Many are mocking and criticizing Trump, while others appeared skeptical and called for a fact-check.
Claim: Donald Trump claims solar panels kill animals
During his campaign rally in Lubbock, Texas, on October 27, Trump drifted from the campaign message to energy policy, claiming that solar installations harm wildlife.
"They have solar, some solar, not those big monsters that they put up all over, they kill all the animals," Trump said.
He then described how he believes the animals die, stating, "The animals jump on them, and they fry because those black panels are hotter than your stove."
The claim drew mockery and backlash on social media, with users tying the remarks to the 25th Amendment, which allows presidential powers to pass to someone else when a president cannot perform the job.
The clip has drawn millions of views, with many calling for a fact check.
Fact Check: Experts debunk Donald Trump's claim
The claim, however, is false, as the statement is not supported by evidence or scientific research.
“Solar panels can get hot under certain conditions,” natural resources expert at Cornell University Leana Zoller said.
"On warm, sunny days, their surfaces can be around 20-25C (36-45F) warmer than the surrounding air temperature, so they can reach temperatures of 55-70C (131-158F). However, this does not mean that animals briefly touching or living near panels are being burned."
Howard Crystal, a senior attorney at the non-profit conservation group Center for Biodiversity, also confirmed that "Solar panel farms are not hot, and they do not kill animals"
He pointed to "Concentrated Solar Power” (CSP) as a possible source of the president's claim; it uses mirrors to reflect and concentrate sunlight onto a receiver, converting the radiation into high-temperature heat.
Donald Trump's Texas visit amid Democratic gains
Trump made the claims during his visit to the state to endorse Ken Paxton, the Republican candidate, against Democratic challenger James Talarico, who is ahead of Paxton according to the polls.
This is seen as a remarkable position for a Democrat in a state that has traditionally been held by Republicans.
Backlash against the price hikes and the conflict in the Middle East are adding to voter frustration with Democrats making gains in districts that once leaned Republican.
