James Inhofe, Climate Change Denier and Former Oklahoma Senator, Dies at 89

James Inhofe, the Oklahoma Republican known for his vehement denial of climate change, passed away on Tuesday at the age of 89. Several prominent news organizations, including the New York Times, Associated Press, Politico, and HuffPost, published critical headlines about Inhofe's environmental views upon announcing his death.

Former Oklahoma Senator James Inhofe, known for his staunch denial of climate change, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family after battling a sudden illness. Inhofe served in the Senate from 1994 to 2023, making him Oklahoma's longest-serving senator.

James Inhofe, Climate Change Denier and Former Oklahoma Senator, Dies at 89

Inhofe was a controversial figure, particularly for his views on the environment. He was a leading Republican voice against climate change mitigation efforts, often dismissing the scientific consensus on the issue. In February 2015, he famously brought a snowball onto the Senate floor in an attempt to prove that climate change was not real.

Several prominent news organizations were critical of Inhofe's environmental stance in their obituaries. HuffPost described him as "one of the most vehement climate change deniers to ever walk the halls of Congress." The Associated Press characterized him as a "defense hawk who called human-caused climate change a 'hoax.'"

James Inhofe, Climate Change Denier and Former Oklahoma Senator, Dies at 89

Politico initially published an article with the headline, "Former Sen. Jim Inhofe, who called climate change a 'hoax,' dead at 89," which sparked criticism from Republican officials. The headline was later changed to "Former Sen. Jim Inhofe dead at 89."

The New York Times remembered Inhofe as "a five-term Republican senator from Oklahoma and...arguably Washington's most prominent denier of the established science of human-generated climate change." The Times also quoted Inhofe's past statements in which he dismissed climate change as a "hoax" perpetrated by environmentalists and liberals.

James Inhofe, Climate Change Denier and Former Oklahoma Senator, Dies at 89

Inhofe's death has been met with mixed reactions. Some have praised his legacy as a conservative stalwart, while others have criticized his environmental views. Regardless of one's political stance, Inhofe's passing has sparked a debate about the role of climate change denial in American politics.

Inhofe's former aide told Fox News that the senator passed away peacefully surrounded by his loved ones. Inhofe reportedly suffered a stroke around the Fourth of July holiday.

Fox News also reached out to The New York Times, the Associated Press, and HuffPost for comment, but did not receive immediate responses.