WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Donald Trump signed executive orders Monday to significantly reduce the footprint of the Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante Utah national monuments, while simultaneously providing a stark update on the escalating Iran conflict. The dual-agenda White House briefing underscored the administration’s commitment to returning federal land control to local stakeholders while maintaining aggressive military pressure abroad.
The newly signed directives target a combined 5,094 square miles, effectively shrinking the two Utah national monuments by nearly 3 million acres, with each document addressing close to 1.5 million acres. President Donald Trump was joined in the Oval Office by Utah Governor Spencer Cox and Republican U.S. Senators Mike Lee and John Curtis to formalize the policy shift.
Governor Cox emphasized that the Antiquities Act legally mandates monument designations to encompass the “smallest area possible” to protect historical objects. He noted that multi-million acre designations, which exceed the size of the state of Delaware, deviate from this standard and arrive without necessary federal resources. While Utah maintains nine monuments, seven are appropriately sized between 700 and 7,000 acres. Rightsizing these areas, Cox argued, ensures continued protection of antiquities while making management feasible for local authorities.
Kate, the Deputy Secretary of the Department of the Interior, reinforced this historical context, noting that the 120-year-old Antiquities Act originally yielded monuments of just 1,200 acres. She criticized the Clinton, Obama, and Biden administrations for expanding Utah’s designated acreage to over 3 million acres, effectively locking the land away from public activities like hunting, fishing, and hiking.
Senator Mike Lee added that the “smallest area compatible” standard has been consistently overlooked by recent administrations, and the current executive action brings the designations back into legal compliance. An administration representative, Celeste, highlighted that the original monument expansions faced unanimous opposition from Utah’s federal delegation, governors, and local county commissioners who feared the loss of multiple-use land rights. Today, she noted, the governor, the speaker of the Utah House, and the entire Utah federal delegation stand united in supporting a president who prioritizes local input over distant federal mandates.
President Donald Trump echoed these sentiments, recalling the late Senator Orin Hatch’s strong opposition to the original land grabs. The President stated that this action returns more land to the people of Utah than his previous term, correcting a dynamic where monument counties are over 90% federally controlled, leaving local governments with only 5% to 10% of the land to fund essential services like road paving, schools, and emergency response. He affirmed that Utahns have proven themselves to be superior land managers compared to federal bureaucrats located thousands of miles away. Following the signing, the President presented commemorative pens to Governor Cox and Senator Lee.
The briefing then pivoted to foreign policy, with President Donald Trump addressing the ongoing Iran conflict. He described the U.S. military campaign as moving rapidly, asserting that America has effectively demolished Iran’s military capabilities. The President revealed that a tentative agreement reached two days prior was immediately abandoned by Tehran. In response, the U.S. is launching major attacks tonight to eliminate any remaining Iranian offensive capabilities tied to the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump provided stark statistics regarding the four-month campaign, contrasting it favorably with the 19-year Vietnam War. He claimed the U.S. has neutralized Iran’s entire navy, leaving 159 ships underwater, and destroyed all 230 of its attack aircraft. Additionally, he stated that 92% of Iran’s drone manufacturing and 89% of its missile production capabilities have been eliminated. The administration has also reinstated a strict naval blockade on the Strait of Hormuz, which the President clarified will exclusively target Iranian commerce while allowing other nations to pass freely.
Despite the intense military pressure, the President maintained that a negotiated settlement with Iran remains possible. He condemned the Iranian regime for allegedly killing 52,000 protesters and reiterated his absolute stance that Tehran will never obtain a nuclear weapon, crediting past U.S. interventions—including the first-term elimination of Qasem Soleimani, whom he described as an “evil genius” plotting against U.S. installations in Iraq and Iran—for preventing regional collapse and protecting allies like Israel, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, and Kuwait. The President noted that the U.S. expects financial reimbursement from these protected nations, emphasizing that America, especially with access to Venezuelan reserves, already controls over 50% of the global oil supply.
Economically, Trump asserted that Iran is crumbling, with inflation skyrocketing from 5% to over 300% in just four months, and that the regime’s first-, second-, and some third-tier leadership have been eliminated. He sharply criticized certain media outlets, specifically naming CNN, for suggesting Iran is faring well, labeling such reporting as treasonous.
On other geopolitical matters, when asked about reports of Iranian drones in Cuba, the President stated that Senator Marco is actively investigating the situation and that the U.S. will resolve the matter “in short order” if the claims are verified.
Before concluding the event, President Donald Trump took a solemn moment to honor his friend, Lindsay, a highly respected politician who recently passed away. The President noted that Lindsay was a strong supporter of the Save America Act and had called him shortly before his death. Flags will remain at half-staff until Saturday evening in his memory.
Finally, the President promoted an upcoming Indy car race scheduled in 41 days along Pennsylvania Avenue, boasting that 250,000 tickets have already been ordered and comparing the anticipated economic impact to record-setting UFC events.