Al Gore’s King Canute Analogy: Why Trump’s Climate Denial Can’t Stop the Tide of Change

In a 2017 interview, former Vice President Al Gore famously compared Donald Trump to King Canute, the 11th-century monarch who, according to legend, commanded the tide to stop—only to fail spectacularly. Gore’s analogy wasn’t just a historical quip; it was a sharp critique of Trump’s attempts to roll back climate policies while the world surged forward with renewable energy and environmental action. Six years later, the metaphor holds weight: despite political resistance, the global shift toward sustainability has only accelerated.

This article explores the origins of Gore’s comparison, why it resonates today, and how the “tide” of climate action has outpaced even the most determined opposition. We’ll also examine real-world examples of progress, the economic and social forces driving change, and what this means for the future of environmental policy.