By Alex Chen | Tuesday, 10 March 2026 03:02 PM EDT
President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that he is collaborating with Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer to protect the Great Lakes from invasive Asian carp. The fish, which Trump described as “rapidly taking over Lake Michigan,” are posing a significant threat to the region’s ecosystem.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump stated he is working with Whitmer, a Democrat, “on trying to save The Great Lakes from the rather violent and destructive Asian Carp.” He noted that the species are spreading through Lake Michigan and its surrounding waterways.
Trump also revealed plans to involve other Great Lakes states in the effort. “I’ll be asking other Governors to join into this fight, including those of Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, and New York,” he wrote.
Additionally, Trump addressed environmental concerns in the West, stating that he is “working to save The Great Salt Lake, in Utah.” He warned that without immediate action, “the lake will have no water in a short period of time.”
Asian carp, often referred to as invasive carp, have spread across much of the Mississippi River basin. If they establish themselves in the Great Lakes, scientists say they could outcompete native fish for food and disrupt aquatic ecosystems, potentially causing billions of dollars in damage to the region’s fishing and recreational industries.
Federal and state officials have spent years attempting to prevent Asian carp from reaching the Great Lakes through barriers and infrastructure projects near Chicago designed to block their movement between the Mississippi River system and Lake Michigan.
