Donald Trump Jr. touts the shrinking of Utah’s Bears Ears as opening land to public – Salt Lake Tribune

Washington While presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden vows to restore the Bears Ears National Monument in Utah and curtail oil and gas leasing on public lands, President Donald Trumps son says his dads efforts to open up access to federal tracts and fix up national parks is a better selling point for reelection.

The Democrats have been able to spin the Bears Ears notion as, Oh, my God, theyre getting rid of a national monument, Donald Trump Jr. said on a conference call Friday with regional news outlets.

It just couldnt be further from the truth, he continued. The Trump administration is getting rid of belt-and-suspenders-type regulations to allow people access to be able to enjoy these monuments and to be able to do it for everyone to enjoy their public lands.

So this administration has gone above and beyond opening up more access to public lands, I believe [more than] anyone since [President Teddy] Roosevelt, you know, when they started the whole public parks program.

The president's eldest son was answering a question by The Salt Lake Tribune about Biden's stance on Bears Ears but didn't mention Biden in doing so.

The presumptive Democratic nominee has previously announced that if elected his administration would protect Americas natural treasures by permanently protecting the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and other areas impacted by President Trumps attack on federal lands and waters, and establishing national parks and monuments that reflect Americas natural heritage, including reversing President Trumps proclamation on Bears Ears.

Biden said he'll reverse the changes to Bears Ears and also ban new oil and gas drilling on public lands and waters and increase royalties for existing mineral development.

The president's son said tossing out the Obama monument declaration allowed more access by the public to public lands.

This is a big issue for people in Utah as well as all of those out in the West, he said. The Trump administration has opened, as of Sept. 1, its going to be like 4.8 million new acres of public access that was previously inaccessible for sportsmen/women, for those who are, you know, recreational outdoorsman and women. So this administration has created access for Americans to their public lands.

Separately, Trump Jr. declined to weigh in on whether Utah Gov. Gary Herbert should mandate mask wearing amid a spike of coronavirus cases in the state.

Despite the cries of, you know, Donald Trump is a dictator, hes a dictator,' you know, hes let the states make these sort of decisions, the presidents son said. And so he trusts that those governors will make the right decision with the information on the ground. So if there is a spike in Utah, then maybe you know thats up to the governor to decide.

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Donald Trump Jr. touts the shrinking of Utah's Bears Ears as opening land to public - Salt Lake Tribune