At a recent White House dinner for outdoor enthusiasts and industry leaders, former President Donald Trump made a surprising remark about his authority as president. Speaking to attendees, including billionaire businessman Johnny Morris, founder of Bass Pro Shops, Trump emphasized the power of his office, suggesting that he could have banned fishing if he had chosen to do so. The event was centered around Trump signing executive orders aimed at expanding hunting and fishing opportunities and rolling back some of former President Joe Biden’s environmental restrictions. During the gathering, Trump joked about his influence over the fishing industry, telling Morris that he had the power to halt the sale of fishing rods entirely. “I could have made it so you couldn’t sell. You couldn’t sell anything. I could have banned fishing,” Trump said, drawing laughter from the audience. He then playfully suggested that he might have issued a short-term ban on fishing until Morris personally appealed to him, highlighting the perceived strength of the presidential role. Trump also praised his support from America’s outdoor community, comparing himself to the late President Theodore Roosevelt, whom he said was also a strong advocate for hunters and fishermen. In addition to discussing outdoor policies, Trump showcased recent renovations to the White House. Speaking in the Rose Garden, he noted that the White House had undergone significant upgrades, including the installation of a Mar-a-Lago-style patio. Trump specifically highlighted a new black and white granite helipad on the South Lawn, designed to resemble the presidential seal. The structure, made of six-inch-thick granite carved with an eagle, was built to accommodate the powerful new helicopters used for presidential transport. Trump also mentioned that the cost of the helipad, estimated at $5 to $6 million, was being covered by Sikorsky Aircraft, a subsidiary of defense contractor Lockheed Martin. He said the company had offered to pay because they felt “a little guilty” for not adequately warning about the power of the new helicopter fleet they delivered in 2024. The helicopters, he noted, had been so strong that they had ripped up the grass on the South Lawn, prompting the need for the new helipad.