A bunch of people trolled Trump's EPA by sending copies of 'The Lorax'

This is some A+ trolling.

A government watchdog organization released a list of gifts that former Environmental Protection Agency administrator Scott Pruitt received while in office — many of which appear to have been gag gifts making fun of Pruitt’s climate denialism.

The gifts include six copies of Dr. Seuss’ “The Lorax” — a children’s book about how corporate greed can kill the environment.

Other gag gifts include three copies of “Global Warming for Dummies,” a “Back Off, We’re Scientists” mug, a shirt that says “Science is True Whether You Believe It or Not,” a copy of “Climate Change: A Brief History,” a book titled “Why Evolution is True,” and one copy of the U.S. Constitution.

Pruitt, for his part, resigned in disgrace from the Trump administration in July 2018 amid a cloud of ethical scandals, which involved everything from his living arrangement in Washington, D.C., to his taxpayer-funded use of first-class airfare.

With all the reports of Pruitt’s ethical lapses, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington demanded the government provide a list of gifts Pruitt received while in office. When the Trump administration refused, CREW sued, leading to the list of gifts the Trump administration released on Monday.

While a number of the gifts Pruitt received were clear trolls from environmentalists who took issues with Pruitt’s attacks on science, he did receive some well-intentioned gifts from trade associations and even some members of Congress.

Former Rep. Lamar Smith (R-TX) — one of the biggest science deniers in Congress, who ironically chaired the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology — gave Pruitt an $85 Vineyard Vines necktie. (The gift list doesn’t specify what pattern the tie had — but Vineyard Vines’ signature sea creatures are among the marine life likely to be injured by Pruitt’s pro-pollution policies.)

Pruitt also received a “walnut plaque laser engraved with the Administrator’s face and Scott Pruitt,” which was gifted to him after he spoke before the Delta Council, and a “Make Dairy Great Again” hat from a company called BTR Energy.

It’s unclear whether Pruitt read any of the gag books gifted to him — but given his long record of denying the basic science of climate change, he could probably learn something from them.

Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.