Donald Trump Deemed 'Wretched' as His Behaviour Reportedly 'Hits Rock Bottom' Over Recent Speech

President Donald Trump faced criticism from some social-media users after joking at a White House Rose Garden dinner on Thursday, 17 September 2026, that he could have banned fishing and describing the power of the presidency as 'crazy.'

The remarks, directed at Bass Pro Shops founder Johnny Morris, prompted accusations online that Trump was 'drunk on power,' with one user describing his behaviour as 'wretched.'

What Trump Said at the Rose Garden Dinner

The comments came during an event attended by more than 100 hunters, anglers and outdoor-industry representatives, held after Trump signed executive orders aimed at expanding hunting and fishing access on public lands and reversing certain Biden-era restrictions.

According to video and transcript material from the event, Trump said the administration's measures would expand fishing seasons and quotas, while an executive order directs federal agencies to review, revise, suspend or rescind certain regulations affecting saltwater anglers, boaters, charter operators and coastal communities.

Trump then turned to the potential commercial consequences of a hypothetical fishing ban. 'I could have made it so you couldn't sell anything. I could have banned fishing,' Trump said, addressing Morris directly. 'The power of this office is crazy.'

He added that he could have banned fishing and driven 'Johnny' 'right the hell out of business.' Trump then continued with a hypothetical suggestion that he might issue a short-term order before the businessman pleaded with him to reverse it, 'I think I'm gonna do that, maybe just a quick order, maybe just for a day or two, till he calls me and he says, Please, President, please, you're putting me out of business, sir.'

In the surrounding remarks, he presented the idea as a hypothetical and then described imposing a short-term order before returning to the broader discussion of fishing policy.

Social-Media Reactions and 'Wretched' Characterisation

The clip quickly became a source of argument online. One X user, using the name Runas Dos Lunas, wrote in a post translated from Spanish, 'Trump says, smiling, that he could ban fishing for a couple of days just because the position allows him to. It's not a joke.'

The user argued that fishing was connected to trade, food and local livelihoods, rather than being a minor leisure activity. The post concluded by describing the president's apparent casualness as 'wretched' and saying, 'I feel disgust.'

One wrote, 'For anyone who doesn't know what drunk with power means, this here is a great example.' Another asked whether Trump's supporters believed he was the best person available for the presidency.

A third commenter focused on his tone rather than the policy itself, writing that Trump appeared to be enjoying the idea of telling millions of Americans they could no longer fish. Another accused him of mocking the people who voted for him.

Some users criticised Trump's smile and delivery, interpreting the remarks as boastful rather than as a serious warning.

Why Trump's Fishing Remarks Drew Mixed Reactions Online

Some users did not interpret the fishing remarks as a serious threat. 'Don't take him seriously. He's a natural comedian,' one commenter wrote. The remarks did not constitute an announcement of a fishing prohibition. The transcript shows Trump discussing an existing policy change before introducing the ban as a hypothetical. The sharp reaction instead centred on whether joking about removing a livelihood was appropriate in the first place.

Trump's wording also raised questions online about the scope of presidential authority, although his statement itself does not establish what legal authority a president would have to impose a nationwide fishing ban. Experts told reporters the president does not have the power or authority to actually make such a decision.

'There is no plausible basis on which he could ban fishing throughout the U.S.,' said Ilya Somin, author and law professor at George Mason University. Kate Shaw, a law professor at the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School, agreed that there is truly no legal way to allow the president to simply ban fishing throughout the US but what the statement represents could be concerning.

The White House executive order itself says implementation must be consistent with applicable law and preserves authorities granted to executive departments and agencies. Trump said he could have banned fishing, but that is a quotation rather than an established legal power.