Donald Trump and his administration recently made a decision that’s facing an extreme amount of backlash and angering animal rights activists.
The president is making headlines and turning heads after he finalized major changes to how the Endangered Species Act will be carried out in the United States. This month, his administration decided to roll back major protections under the act, changing the definition of “harm” to endangered species, essentially making it legal for developers and others to destroy their habitats without certain permits. The decision sparked outrage from not just animal rights activists, but also numerous Americans and other social media users from around the world. Read more about the situation below.
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Trump Administration Limits Habitat Protections For Endangered Species
The Trump administration is facing a massive wave of criticism after announcing a major change to the Endangered Species Act (ESA) that environmental and animal rights groups say could make it easier to destroy the habitats endangered animals live in and need to survive.
The Endangered Species Act was signed into law by President Nixon in 1973 with the purpose of protecting plants and animals that are at risk of extinction. Since then, it has not only protected endangered species from being directly harmed or killed, but it has also protected the places they live across the country.
However, more changes are being made to the famous act, as on July 10th, Donald Trump and his administration finalized a rule that changes how the law defines "harm" to endangered animals. Under the new rule, destroying an endangered species' habitat by itself is no longer automatically considered illegal. People who support the change reportedly claim it follows the original wording of the law and gives landowners and businesses more certainty.
Critics and other media outlets, on the other hand, see it as extremely dangerous for endangered species, as it removes extra protections for their habitats, making it easier for developers and others to build, drill, etc., in critical areas.
Social Media Users & Animal Activists Slam Trump's Decision
It didn't take long for the announcement from the 80-year-old and his administration to spark outrage online, with many social media users accusing them of putting business and money ahead of wildlife conservation.
Environmental organizations have echoed those concerns, warning that habitat loss is a massive threat to endangered species. Many activist groups have pledged to challenge the rule in court, arguing that taking away or weakening habitat protections could have serious consequences for wildlife in the United States.
On platforms like X, users posted scathing messages about the president, calling him "evil" and more.
"I hate this Administration so much," responded an X user. "I hate him so much. I've never hated anything the way I hate them. I am consumed with hatred. It takes up my whole day hating them."
"The lack of respect for the earth's remarkable creatures disgusts me," added another.
One user wrote that the Apprentice star was "irredeemably evil," as another commented, "We must fight this."
"This is terrible," added a user. "I can't believe that as humans we can't even agree to protect our planet."
