President Donald Trump hosted a dinner for outdoor industry executives and enthusiasts in the White House Rose Garden on Thursday, September 17, 2026. During the event, the president signed executive orders intended to expand hunting and fishing opportunities and reverse restrictions established during the Biden administration.
The gathering included prominent industry figures such as Johnny Morris, the billionaire founder of Bass Pro Shops. The president told the audience that the new executive orders would extend fishing seasons and support businesses involved in outdoor recreation.
During his remarks, the president commented on the authority of the executive branch. Addressing Morris, he said he could have used his power to ban fishing and "driven Johnny right the hell out of business." He suggested he might issue a temporary order "just for a day or two" until Morris asked for the policy to be reversed. The president stated that outdoorsmen have not had a better friend in office for many years, saying only President Theodore Roosevelt could rival his support for the group.
The president also discussed recent renovations to the White House grounds, including the paving of the Rose Garden to create a patio. He highlighted the construction of a new helipad on the South Lawn made of six-inch-thick black and white granite carved with the presidential seal. The president said the stone landing pad was necessary because the engines of the new helicopter fleet, completed in 2024, were damaging the grass.
In July 2026, the president stated that Sikorsky Aircraft, a subsidiary of Lockheed Martin, was covering the $5 million to $6 million cost of the helipad. He told reporters at the time that the company agreed to the payment because they felt "a little guilty" for not warning the administration about the physical impact the helicopters would have on the White House lawn.
The event also highlights a change in White House infrastructure. By having a private defense contractor, Sikorsky Aircraft, pay between $5 million and $6 million for a stone helipad on the South Lawn, the administration has shifted the cost of this facility away from federal taxpayers.
What happens next depends on the implementation of the signed executive orders by federal agencies. The new fishing seasons and expanded access will go into effect as dictated by the specific language of the orders. The helipad on the South Lawn is constructed and in use for the Marine One fleet.