ApepBar | Investigations Desk | October 31, 2026
A viral YouTube Short criticizing Donald Trump’s animal-welfare record has renewed debate about hunting rules, protections for gray wolves, horse-soring enforcement, migratory birds and trophy imports. Several assertions reflect real regulatory decisions, but the video blends different years and sometimes overstates what the law permits.
Alaska bear hunting regulations
On October 19, 2026, the National Park Service published a rule restoring certain state-authorized hunting methods within Alaska national preserves, scheduled to take effect November 18. The debate includes bear baiting and methods previously restricted under federal rules. The video describes bears and cubs being killed in dens; those practices depend on the species, Alaska rules, permit conditions and subsistence exceptions, and are not universally legal everywhere. Read the federal rule.
Wisconsin’s 2021 wolf hunt
In February 2021, hunters killed 218 wolves in Wisconsin during a short season, compared with an allocation of 119 wolves for state-licensed hunters. Federal gray wolf protections had been removed near the end of Trump’s first term. But the harvest exceeding an allocation is not proof that individual hunters were legally exempt from penalties: the video collapses separate regulatory and enforcement questions. A federal court restored protections for wolves in Wisconsin in February 2022. Wisconsin DNR wolf information.
Horse soring and delayed enforcement
Horse soring—the use of painful chemicals or mechanical devices to exaggerate a show horse’s gait—is already prohibited under the federal Horse Protection Act. A stronger inspection and enforcement regulation adopted in 2024 has faced litigation and implementation delays. USDA in January 2026 postponed remaining provisions until December 31, 2026. Delaying additional safeguards is not the same as legalizing soring. USDA’s Horse Protection Act guidance.
New York City’s carriage horses
Trump publicly objected to New York City’s October 2026 City Council action to phase out its carriage-horse industry. The local phaseout is not a federal law, and a presidential statement opposing it does not itself overturn the city’s legislation. The issue has divided animal-welfare campaigners and carriage workers over horse safety, historic tradition and jobs. New York City Council announcement.
Migratory birds and industrial activity
The administration has supported a narrower interpretation of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act’s treatment of accidental bird deaths from industrial operations. Critics say this reduces accountability for preventable mortality; supporters argue the law should target intentional acts and offer clearer regulatory boundaries. The video exaggerates this as the elimination of every protection for migratory birds. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service law overview.
Elephant and lion trophy imports
Trump-era wildlife policy changes included shifts toward case-by-case reviews of certain hunting-trophy imports. That did not create a blanket right to import elephant or lion trophies without permits or conservation-related restrictions. Federal law and international wildlife-trade rules still apply. African elephant regulations.
What the record establishes
Whether Trump is the “worst president” for animal welfare is the video’s political conclusion, not an empirically established ranking. The underlying federal decisions deserve scrutiny, including their dates, scope and effects on wildlife populations. Animal advocates point to weakened safeguards; supporters of the policies emphasize state wildlife authority, hunting traditions and regulatory interpretation.
Editorial disclosure: This is an independently written fact-check and explainer of a political social-media video. The speaker’s opinions are attributed rather than adopted as established facts.
