Trump Gives Reluctant Ranchers The Go-Ahead To ‘Take Care Of’ Endangered Species: ‘You Can Shoot Them As Of Today’
President Donald Trumpliterally jumped the gun Friday by encouraging American ranchers to go ahead and shoot gray wolves to protect their cattle herds from the predators.
Trump signed an executive order in the Oval Office Friday with a provision to "encourage" states to delist gray wolves as protected species so ranchers can shoot them.
"Gray wolves have been listed under federal endangered species protection in parts of the United States for over 50 years," according to the Endangered Species Act.
"Anybody have a problem with the Mexican gray wolf?" Trump asked the ranchers surrounding the Resolute Desk.
One rancher said the Clinton administration released gray wolves in Arizona and New Mexico, which have become "a big problem."
"Not a great idea, right?" Trump asked. "Although they are beautiful looking. But you don't think they are beautiful, do you? And what do they do, rip the herd apart?"
"They will kill your livestock, they will kill your dogs, your horses," the rancher said.
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollinssaid, "But sir, the problem is, because they are on the endangered species list, they can't shoot them . They have to sit and watch them destroy the herd."
"You can shoot them as of today," Trump declared.
"Well, Secretary [Doug] Burgumhas to do a little magic, but yes," Rollins laughed.
"How do you like the idea that I'm letting you do that?" Trump asked another rancher. "And that will totally solve the problem, right?"
The rancher, from Washington state, reluctantly agreed.
"But you'll be able to protect your herd. And right now you can't do anything," Trump said. "It's illegal, right?"
"We've seen it take hundreds of family ranches, and it's just gone," the man said.
"And they would be able to protect if they had the right to shoot them?" Trump asked.
The rancher explained, "The state of Washington has fought us tooth and nail. Won't allow your team to come in, won't allow us to do anything."
"Okay, you're allowed to go and take care," Trump said, but the rancher shook his head no.
"No, no," Trump said. "You're allowed to. We have no choice."
"If you say so, sir," the rancher laughed.
Watch the clip above via C-SPAN.
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