For now, Trump will keep ban on importing elephant trophies

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said Friday that he will uphold a government ban on hunters bringing trophies of elephants that were killed in Zimbabwe into the United States, pending a further review.

His evening Twitter message reversed a decision by his own administration that was announced this week and promoted as recently as Friday afternoon by the White House press secretary, Sarah Huckabee Sanders.

“Put big game trophy decision on hold until such time as I review all conservation facts,” Trump tweeted. “Under study for years. Will update soon with Secretary Zinke. Thank you!”

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service had signaled its intention to end the 2014 ban.

The White House had also argued that the hunting would bring money to local communities and incentivize efforts to protect elephants. Under President Barack Obama, the practice had been banned because of a lack of data on conservation efforts in the African country.

Animal rights advocates and environmental groups criticized the decision. On Friday, the Republican chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee urged the administration to reverse the policy, calling it the “wrong move at the wrong time.”

California Rep. Ed Royce questioned the action because of concerns not only about African wildlife but U.S. national security, citing the political upheaval in Zimbabwe.

“The administration should withdraw this decision until Zimbabwe stabilizes,” the committee chairman said in a statement. “Elephants and other big game in Africa are blood currency for terrorist organizations … Stopping poaching isn’t just about saving the world’s most majestic animals for the future — it’s about our national security.”