Asked what she thought of Trump's repeated mockery of Swedish activist Greta Thunberg and its impact on fellow teens fighting for climate action, Jane Fonda said the president was deserving of people's pity, not scorn. — Photo AFP/VNA

WASHINGTON — Hollywood legend Jane Fonda revealed she attempted to meet President Donald Trump shortly after his election with a group of "beautiful, voluptuous, brilliant" climate activists including Pamela Anderson in order to convince him to tackle global warming.

But after discussing her idea with the president's son-in-law Jared Kushner and daughter Ivanka Trump, Fonda did not hear back, which eventually helped convince her to move for several months to the capital Washington and use the power of her celebrity to help drive mass mobilisations.

Speaking at the National Press Club on Tuesday, Fonda, who turns 82 on Saturday, said she hatched the plan the day after the New York real estate tycoon was elected in 2016.

"I kind of know men like Trump, not as bad, but you know, I sort of know those inclinations," she said.

"And I thought, I'm going to get three or four of the most beautiful, voluptuous, brilliant climate activists - Pamela Anderson is one of them - and a few scientists, and I'm going to make an appointment and we're all going to see Trump and we're going to get on our knees," she added, to laughter.

"And we're going to say to him, President Trump, you can be the hero of the entire world, you can be the most important human being ever to be born, the most better, perfect, wonderful, big, huge, wonderful, if you protect the planet."

She said she then called Kushner, who referred her to his wife Ivanka, the "environmentalist in the family", to call her back. Fonda said Ivanka laughed when told the plan but did not take it further. — AFP