Cheers in Rose Garden as Trump says: "I was elected to represent the citizens of Pittsburgh, not Paris."

Other countries want the US to "continue to suffer this self-inflicted major economic wound".

"We would find it very hard to compete with other nations," Trump says of the accord.

He says the US has enough energy to be independent of other countries.

The US has "great wealth, phenomenal wealth", he tells the audience.

Greenpeace is not mincing its words.

Trump cites a Wall Street Journal editorial headlined Paris Climate Discord.

"The reality is that withdrawing is in America’s economic interest and won’t matter much to the climate," he says, quoting from the first paragraph of the article, external.

He adds the agreement "handicaps the United States economy".

"The bottom line is the Paris accord is very unfair, at the highest level, to the United States."

He is also touting new coal mines.

"And the mines are starting to open up," he says, asserting that coal mines are planned in West Virginia and Pennsylvania.

Image source, AFP

Mr Trump's predecessor put out a prepared statement that said:

"The nations that remain in the Paris Agreement will be the nations that reap the benefits in jobs and industries created.

"I believe the United States of America should be at the front of the pack. But even in the absence of American leadership; even as this Administration joins a small handful of nations that reject the future; I'm confident that our states, cities and businesses will step up and do even more to lead the way, and help protect for future generations the one planet we've got."

Trump says the deal benefits China and India to the detriment of the US.

"The agreement is massive redistribution of United States wealth to other countries," he says.

"Our businesses will come to a halt in many cases," he adds.

Trump lists how many jobs he says will be lost by American workers under the Paris agreement.

"Not what we need," he says.

"Coal, and I happen to love the coal miners", he says.

Lots of angry-face emoticons floating across this screen...

Trump says the pact is an example of "Washington entering into an agreement that disadvantages the United States to the exclusive benefit of other companies".

"Not only does this deal subject our citizens to harsh economic restrictions, it fails to live up to our ideals."

"As someone who cares deeply about the environment, and I do, I cannot in good conscience support a deal that punishes the United States, which is what it does."

Trump: "In order to fulfil my solemn duty to protect America and its citizens, the United States will withdraw from the Paris climate accord but begin negotiations to re-enter either the Paris accord, or an entirely new transaction on terms that are fair to the United States, its businesses, its workers, its people, its tax-payers.

"So we're getting out. But we will start to negotiate and we will see if we can make a deal that's fair.

"And if we can that's great. and if we cant that's fine."

There are cheers and a ripple of applause in the Rose Garden as he speaks.

Image source, Reuters

Trump says he wants to give an update on the US economy, before he gets to his Paris agreement decision.

"One by one we are keeping the promises I made to the American people," he says.

Trumps says "we are closely monitoring the situation" in Manila, where gunmen have reportedly attacked a tourist resort.

"Our thoughts and our prayers are with all of those affected," he says.

VP Pence says: "The American people and the wider world will see once again America's president is choosing to put" Americans first.

"He is choosing to put the forgotten men and women first", Pence adds.

Trump, Pence says, has been "rolling back excessive trade regulations and unfair practices that were stifling" the US economy.

"Thanks to President Donald Trump, America is back," he says.

"Our president is choosing to put American jobs first," he adds.

On behalf of the first family, welcome to the White House, says Vice-President Mike Pence.

Trump, he says, "is fighting every day to make American great again".

It's hot here in Washington, and Trump's team and the journalists covering him are starting to get a little sweaty in the White House Rose Garden.

Steve Bannon, the former Breitbart News editor and Trump senior adviser who reportedly advocated for US withdrawal from the Paris pact, is also mingling with attendees.