Those darned
FACTS, though...
The claim followed the administration's mid-July 2026 decision to end automatic ESA protections for newly listed threatened species
news.meaww.com
The claim is false. The
Trump administration has not legalized the hunting or killing of Florida manatees. The species remains protected under the federal Marine Mammal Protection Act and Florida state law, both of which continue to prohibit hunting, killing, or harassing manatees.
The July 2026 changes to the Endangered Species Act (ESA) do not override these protections. Instead, the July 2026 ESA rule changes ended the automatic "blanket" protections that previously applied to newly listed threatened species and narrowed the regulatory definition of "harm" by excluding most habitat modification from the prohibited "take" of wildlife.
While these changes could affect habitat protections and future threatened species listings, including the pending proposal involving Florida manatees, they do not make it legal to hunt or kill the animals.
Supporters of the changes argue they better balance conservation with economic and landowner interests, while critics contend that weaker habitat protections could indirectly increase risks to manatee populations.<
Retweeting a lie does not legitimize it.