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Trump hosts hunters, anglers and outdoor industry leaders to celebrate America’s conservation heritage, roll back restrictions on public outdoor recreation
Confirmed
In Short: President Trump hosted a dinner for hunters, anglers, and outdoor industry leaders to celebrate America's conservation heritage and signed executive orders to ease restrictions on public outdoor recreation.
President Trump hosted a celebratory dinner at the White House Rose Garden, welcoming over 100 prominent hunters, anglers, and outdoor industry leaders to discuss America's conservation heritage and roll back federal restrictions on public outdoor recreation.
At the event, Trump signed two executive orders aimed at opening federal public lands and offshore waters to expanded hunting and recreational fishing access. The orders include provisions such as transitioning charter boat operators toward multi-year permits and updating catch data collection methods.
The directives also target the reversal of Biden-era environmental restrictions, specifically eliminating phased-in bans on traditional lead ammunition and fishing tackle across several national wildlife refuges. Trump emphasized that these actions would benefit America's outdoorsmen, stating, 'America's outdoorsmen have not had a better friend in the Oval Office for many, many years.
The administration’s directives instruct the Secretaries of Interior, Agriculture, War, and Commerce to review existing land management frameworks to ease federal red tape and boost outdoor participation among youth and military veterans.
According to a White House official, America’s outdoor recreation sector generates over $1.2 trillion annually and supports over 5 million jobs, highlighting the economic impact of these policy changes.
What's confirmed
- OAN Staff Brooke Mallory 6:37 PM – Thursday, September 17, 2026 President Donald Trump hosted a White House Rose Garden dinner on Thursday evening, welcoming more than 100 prominent hunters, anglers and outdoor industry leaders to celebrate America’s conservation heritage and roll back federal restrictions on public outdoor recreation.
- Trump will deliver remarks to the sportsmen and industry representatives as the administration is working to open more public lands and waterways, ease regulatory barriers and promote hunting for younger Americans and veterans.
- America’s outdoor recreation sector generates over $1.2 trillion for the country annually and supports over 5 million jobs, according to a White House official.
- Trump is expected to sign some executive orders aimed at expanding hunting and fishing opportunities and reversing some Biden-era restrictions.
- One of the policies that Trump will highlight in the executive order targets Biden-era restrictions on the use of traditional lead ammunition and tackle.
What's still developing
- Trump Restores American Saltwater Angling and Recreation https://t.co/NtBup8RW6G. @POTUS : The second Executive Order I signed today eliminates absurd federal regulations on our saltwater anglers, boaters, charter captains, and coastal communities. https://t.co/dYDSVE1Gyc pic.twitter.com/DzzlPW80P3 What do YOU think?
- The gathering brought together executives and advocates from major brands and conservation organizations, including Bass Pro Shops, the Cabela Family Foundation, Ducks Unlimited, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Safari Club International and the National Rifle Association (NRA).
- On the marine front, the new actions seek to streamline regulatory burdens for recreational offshore fishing and grant anglers an expanded voice in federal fishery management decisions.
- The US has announced targeted visa restrictions against South African nationals it claims are responsible for, or complicit in, race-based discrimination, incitement of violence and land expropriation without compensation, escalating tensions between Washington and Pretoria.
- Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the travel sanctions on Tuesday, 15 September, and US Ambassador to SA Leo Brent Bozell III added that this was “only the first step in a series of escalatory measures that will show America’s firm resolve in this matter”.
- AfriForum has repeatedly called on the US to implement targeted sanctions against South African leaders, citing many of the same issues raised by Rubio.
- The US government did not say which individuals would be denied entry to the US, though there have been indications in the past that the likes of EFF leader Julius Malema and perhaps some ANC leaders could be targeted.
- Daily Maverick understands from diplomatic sources that no list of targeted individuals will be made public, so people will only discover they have been sanctioned when they apply for visas or try to travel to the US.