President Trump just signed an executive order that cancels the Biden administration’s push for paper straws. He says he’s frustrated with how they perform and questions if they actually help the environment.
This is part of his ongoing effort to roll back environmental rules, and it’s sparked a big debate about whether paper or plastic straws are better for the planet.
Trump announces the end of the paper straw rule
On Monday night, President Trump made it official – no more paper straws. He even joked that they “explode.”
He’d hinted at this move on Friday, posting on Truth Social that he’d sign an order to “end the ridiculous Biden push for paper straws, which don’t work,” adding, “BACK TO PLASTIC!”
Trump’s public criticism of paper straws
Trump didn’t hold back, telling reporters in the Oval Office, “We’re going back to plastic straws. These things don’t work.” He added, “I’ve had them many times, and sometimes, they break, they explode.”
Not sure what he meant by “explode,” but most people usually complain about paper straws getting all soggy.
He also said, “If something is hot, they don’t last long. Like, a matter of minutes, sometimes even seconds. It’s just ridiculous.”
Environmental concerns and regulatory rollback
This move is just one part of Trump’s bigger plan to roll back the environmental regulations that were put in place by the last administration.
Back in 2022, President Biden talked about phasing out the use of all single-use plastics by 2035. The idea behind that is plastics are a big part of the pollution problem and they’re made from fossil fuels, which we know is bad for the environment.
Cutting down on plastic can actually do a lot to help, so it’s like a two-for-one deal when it comes to being eco-friendly.
Trump’s remarks on environmental impact and wildlife
Trump also said, “And I don’t think that plastic is gonna bother a shark too much when it’s munching its way through the ocean.”
Trump’s history of mocking environmental initiatives
Trump’s no stranger to poking fun at environmental efforts. He got crowds to chant “Drill Baby Drill” and took jabs at the Green New Deal, which is a plan to train American workers for green jobs.
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In the 2020 campaign, Trump’s team even sold plastic straws as a way to mock the Democrats’ environmental ideas. The website read, “Liberal paper straws don’t work,” with a message saying, “STAND WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP and buy your pack of recyclable straws today.
Trump takes a jab at Biden over straws
Trump seemed pretty pleased with his decision, saying in a TV interview, “You know what’s one thing I did last night that’s really popular? The straw.”
He added, “But this was a Biden issue. A big Biden issue. As if Biden really knew,” poking fun at the 82-year-old former president.
Environmental groups criticize Trump’s decision
Clearly, not everyone’s happy about this move. Christy Leavitt from Oceana, a group focused on fighting plastic pollution, said, “President Trump is headed in the wrong direction on single-use plastics. His executive order on plastics spells trouble for our oceans, our health, and our communities.
“Plastic is everywhere. It’s choking our oceans, sitting at the deepest point of the seafloor, and even raining down in our national parks.”
Leavitt criticized Trump, saying his decision is “more about messaging than finding real solutions.”
She added, “President Trump should be working on making the U.S. a global leader in tackling the plastics crisis at the source – by cutting down on single-use plastics and moving to systems that reuse and refill.”
So, whether you’re team paper or team plastic, it looks like the straw debate is far from over!
