Earlier this week, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals temporarily blocked a land swap that would hand a swath of the Tonto National Forest — a parcel sacred to some Apaches — over to a multinational mining company in Arizona.
President Donald Trump has now weighed in shortly after welcoming chief executives from two of the world’s biggest mining companies to the White House.
On Truth Social, Trump blamed a “radical left court” for delaying the swap, which would clear the way for a massive mine run by Resolution Copper. Democratic congressional candidate Adelita Grijalva says his rhetoric is “reckless interference,” “dangerous” and even “corrupt,” adding that “Trump is blatantly attempting to strong-arm the court.”
She’s running to fill the seat of her father — the late Arizona Congressman Raúl — who spent his political career trying to stop mining in the area, known as Oak Flat. Trump also labeled those who oppose the mine “anti-American.”
“Trump can try to shame us. We’re not going to be silent,” Grijavala told KJZZ. “For him to call us all anti-American for standing up to protect Oak Flat, it’s not just wrong – it’s offensive. Standing up for our communities, our land and our future is the most American thing that we can do, and we’re going to continue to do that.”
Resolution Copper is owned by foreign mining giants Rio Tinto and BHP. Trump and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum met with Rio Tinto CEO Jakob Stausholm, incoming chief executive Simon Trott and Mike Henry, CEO of BHP, in the Oval Office.
“It’s no surprise to see this president side with foreign corporations over America’s natural resources,” added Grijalva, “and less for having any kind of consideration of tribal leaders and land.”
San Carlos Apache Chairman Terry Rambler believes Trump has been “misinformed by Resolution Copper’s supporters,” and Rambler has offered to sit down with the president and share “factual information to protect American assets.”
In March, Trump signed an executive order aiming to increase American mineral production, with the White House even naming Resolution Copper as a priority among the “first wave of critical mineral production projects” nationwide through the Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council.
