In a light-hearted moment following the signing of an executive order, US president Donald Trump joked about being “royalty” after receiving a cultural garland from a delegation of American Samoa.
The delegation explained that the garland is a symbol of royalty in their culture. In response, Trump asked, “Does that mean I’m royalty?” The moment was caught on camera and shared by the White House Communications Director, Margo Martin.
Trump signed the executive order titled “Unleashing American commercial fishing in the Pacific,” aimed at opening up Pacific waters to US fishing fleets. The order addresses issues such as the loss of access to nearly half of the US Exclusive Economic Zone due to commercial fishing restrictions and foreign competition.
The new policy will give American Samoa’s private sector more access to the Pacific fishing industry, which is crucial for the territory’s economy. With over 80% of the region’s economy dependent on fishing, the executive order is expected to provide a significant boost.
As the meeting wrapped up, Trump jokingly asked the delegation to send him some “nice tuna,” referencing the fishing industry’s importance to the area.
