Former US President Donald Trump told guests at a White House dinner for outdoor enthusiasts that he possessed the presidential power to ban fishing, a quip made while signing executive orders aimed at expanding hunting and fishing opportunities. The comments came during a Thursday evening event in the Rose Garden, where he also moved to reverse certain Biden-era restrictions, according to Yahoo News.
Expanding Fishing Opportunities
The dinner, which C-SPAN covered as a “Rose Garden Dinner with American Hunters,” saw Trump address industry executives, including Johnny Morris, the billionaire founder of Bass Pro Shops. Trump explained that his executive orders would help expand the fishing season and benefit related industries. “That means you can sell a lot of fishing rods, Johnny. You’re going to sell a lot of rods,” Trump remarked. He added, “I could have made it so you couldn’t sell. You couldn’t sell anything. I could have banned fishing.”
Remarks on Presidential Power
The former President mused about using his authority to issue “just a quick order, just for a day or two,” to ban fishing until Morris would call him to plead. He highlighted the extensive reach of the office, stating, “The power of this office is crazy. I could have banned fishing and driven Johnny right the hell out of business.” Trump also claimed that America’s outdoorsmen had not had a better friend in the Oval Office for many years, suggesting only the late President Theodore Roosevelt could rival his support.
White House Renovations Discussed
Beyond discussions of outdoor activities, Trump also spoke about renovation projects at the White House. He described the exterior as being “in bad shape” and mentioned a new black and white granite helipad on the South Lawn. This helipad, designed to resemble the presidential seal, was described as “six inches thick, carved with a beautiful eagle,” built to accommodate new, powerful Marine One helicopters that had previously “ripped the grass out.” According to Trump, Sikorsky Aircraft, a subsidiary of Lockheed Martin, was funding the $5-6 million helipad cost, feeling “a little guilty” for not warning about the helicopters’ power. While concerns about powerful waves or marine safety, as highlighted by RNLI safety warnings, are crucial for those engaged in fishing, this renovation was focused solely on White House grounds.
