Every time Trump makes a move, most people on FR react just as you described. But none of these things are done without a reason, and this one is transparently simple. Like it or not, a lot of (allegedly) smart people who are highly influential in big corporations and global governments believe climate change is the result of human actions. Trump could choose to spit in their face and call them idiots (as most FReepers would have him do) which would put all of his international agenda in jeopardy and unbalance the growing economy which he badly needs to continue on course. So you send out a stooge who has high credibilty to put on the dog-and-pony show, meanwhile Trump and his team are continuing to MAGA and nothing alters his climate change positions.
You said it so much better than I could have. You are exactly right but most of our freeper friends who get het up were always wobbly Trumpers. They look for every reason to shout: “See! I told you so. That’s why we wanted Ted Cruz!”