Fact-Check Summary
Donald Trump’s recent social media post claims that he and Congressman Jeff Van Drew “just beat one of the biggest Windmill projects anywhere in the World,” and credits Van Drew with “winning to keep your Beaches BEAUTIFUL with NO WINDMILLS” in Atlantic City, Wildwood, and Cape May. A thorough review of recent events shows that two major offshore wind projects off the New Jersey coast – Ørsted’s Ocean Wind 1 and 2 and the Atlantic Shores project – were both cancelled, but the primary reasons were economic challenges, rising costs, supply chain issues, and corporate strategy shifts. While Van Drew and Trump did vocally oppose these projects and enacted a temporary permitting moratorium in 2025, the main determinants of cancellation remained financial infeasibility and not direct political intervention. The Atlantic Shores project, while partially withdrawn by Shell, still retains its federal lease and may continue in the future if conditions change.
Belief Alignment Analysis
The post presents a vision where local political action is credited for preserving “beautiful beaches” and defeating unwanted infrastructure. However, by overstating the impact of political opposition and misrepresenting the primary drivers of the wind project cancellations, it diverts attention from factual analysis and undermines the public’s informed participation in policymaking. True commitment to democratic values requires clear, accurate communication about how public decisions are made and who is responsible for them. While raising legitimate environmental concerns is valuable, this content’s partisan framing risks deepening division, promoting misinformation, and attributing communal developments to personal political victories rather than collective realities. Such rhetoric may encourage a politics of spectacle rather than substance and does not fully support the ideal of an inclusive, evidence-based democracy.
Opinion
The cancellations of New Jersey’s offshore wind projects represent significant setbacks for clean energy development, driven mostly by financial and industry-wide challenges. Political leaders like Rep. Van Drew and Donald Trump are entitled to share their perspectives and advocacy, but taking full credit for complex corporate decisions is misleading. If America is to embrace a future that balances environmental needs, local interests, and sustainable economic growth, public officials and influencers should prioritize honest communication over political self-congratulation. Citizens deserve transparency and respect for the truth, especially on issues as important as energy and climate policy.
TLDR
Claims that Van Drew and Trump “defeated” the world’s largest offshore wind projects off New Jersey are exaggerated. Both Ørsted and Shell withdrew primarily due to financial reasons, not because of political opposition. The projects could resume if future conditions improve. Honest public discussion requires more than partisan celebration.
Claim: Trump asserted that he and Rep. Van Drew stopped one of the biggest windmill projects in the world, keeping New Jersey’s beaches free from turbines due to their political fight.
Fact: Most offshore wind project cancellations in New Jersey were caused by supply chain setbacks, rising costs, and profit concerns – not political actions. Shell’s and Ørsted’s decisions to withdraw had financial drivers, while projects retain the potential to proceed if economic conditions change.
Opinion: Overstating political victories diminishes trust in public debate. New Patriots committed to a fair, truthful, and inclusive democracy should seek facts first and communicate with respect for reality, not just partisan pride.