Trump Pledges Federal Help to Save Utah's Shrinking Great Salt Lake

President says he is working with Utah Governor Spencer Cox on the environmental crisis.

Published on Feb. 22, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

In a recent Truth Social post and remarks at the National Governors Association dinner, President Donald Trump said he is dedicated to helping Utah address the rapidly shrinking Great Salt Lake. Trump stated he is working with Utah Governor Spencer Cox on the issue, which the president described as a "real environmental problem" that needs to be addressed.

Why it matters

The Great Salt Lake has been rapidly drying up in recent years due to drought and water diversions, posing a major environmental crisis for Utah. As the lake shrinks, it threatens the state's ecosystem, air quality, and economy. Trump's pledge to assist Utah in saving the lake could signal a shift in the federal government's approach to addressing climate change and environmental issues.

The details

Trump did not provide specifics on what the federal government plans to do to help Utah combat the Great Salt Lake crisis. However, he stated that he and Governor Cox have discussed the issue, with Cox informing the president that the lake is "losing water rapidly" and "getting smaller, smaller, drier, drier." Cox said there is "more to come" regarding the federal government's involvement, but did not provide further details.

  • On February 22, 2026, Trump made comments about the Great Salt Lake crisis on his Truth Social platform.
  • On February 25, 2026, Trump discussed the issue during remarks at the National Governors Association dinner.

The players

Donald Trump

The former President of the United States who pledged federal assistance to help Utah address the shrinking of the Great Salt Lake.

Spencer Cox

The current Governor of Utah who met with Trump to discuss the environmental crisis facing the Great Salt Lake.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We're going to save the Great Salt Lake, you know that, right? We've got a problem. [Cox] came in to see me today... He said, 'We're losing water rapidly, rapidly, and it's getting smaller, smaller, drier, drier.' You tell those people we're going to work on it really hard. We're going to save it. We're not gonna let that go. That's what I call a real environmental problem.”

— Donald Trump (National Governors Association dinner)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

Trump's pledge to assist Utah in saving the Great Salt Lake could signal a shift in the federal government's approach to addressing climate change and environmental issues, which have been a point of contention during his presidency. The details of the federal government's involvement remain to be seen, but the crisis facing the lake is a pressing concern that requires immediate action.