Trump's New Comments About the Dakota Access Pipeline Are Delusional — Even For Him

The Army Corps of Engineers has greenlit the final stages of construction on the Dakota Access Pipeline following President Donald Trump's executive order to expedite the process. According to the president, however, the pipeline isn't controversial despite thousands of Native Americans and activists occupying the land where it's supposed to be built in protest.

Pres. Trump: 'I haven't had one call' complaining about Dakota pipeline. "I don't even think it was controversial." https://t.co/PINKVVPfov pic.twitter.com/G4TVXngJmP

— ABC News (@ABC) February 8, 2017

During a press conference unrelated to the pipeline in which he met with sheriffs from around the country on Tuesday, Trump also claimed that no one had complained about the pipeline's approval. "I haven't had one call from anybody saying, 'Oh, that was a terrible thing you did,'" Trump asserted. "Usually if I do something it's like bedlam, right?"

While Trump is likely referring to his advisers calling him to object to his authorization of the pipeline, it's unclear why he "doesn't even think it's controversial." Given the president's fascination with cable news, it seems improbable that he would have missed the protests against the pipeline.

Last Summer, the Standing Rock Sioux tribe, along with Native Americans from 280 other tribes, attempted to block construction on the pipeline because it might contaminate the Sioux's drinking water. Clashing with police more than once, Standing Rock was the focus of national attention by October as activists were arrested by the hundreds and more Americans joined the Sioux at their campground. Over 2,000 veterans also showed up to protect the Sioux's water by December.

Barack Obama instructed the Army Corps of Engineers to investigate other possible routes for the pipeline and they eventually halted the project in December. Protesters had battled the project for nearly nine months by that point. President Trump reversed Obama's decision and construction could resume immediately.