There’s no other way to put this: The reelection of Donald Trump is a disaster for the Boundary Waters. This is not hyperbole. This is not a case of Trump-Derangement Syndrome. This is based on Trump’s campaign promises and the attacks he has already leveled against our wilderness.

During his first term, Trump rolled out the red carpet for Twin Metals, the Chilean-owned mining conglomerate seeking to open a toxic copper-sulfide mine at the edge of the Boundary Waters. 

At the behest of South American billionaires, he reinstated expired mineral leases. He took land that belongs to you and belongs to me and gave it to a foreign mining conglomerate to profit from and exploit. 

If that wasn’t enough, the Trump administration arbitrarily stopped a two-year study into the impact copper-sulfide mining would have on the economy and ecosystem of northeastern Minnesota. When the science didn’t match the narrative they wanted to push, the Trump administration sought to cover up the findings, blacking out the entire 60-page report, keeping the results from the public. 

Since Trump left office in 2020, the hard work and commitment of thousands of people who love the Boundary Waters turned the tide, and Twin Metals suffered major setbacks. Despite corrupt dealings, deep pocketbooks and their ability to curry political favors, we’ve managed to stop the mining giant. Their illegal mineral leases were canceled, and in 2022, the federal government implemented a mineral ban on federal lands near the Boundary Waters.

Despite these victories, Twin Metals continued to pursue multiple legal and political avenues to push through its copper-sulfide mine, seeking to overturn the federal government’s decision to cancel its two mineral leases. Finding their lawsuit lacked merit, a federal district court dismissed Twin Metals’ case. But international mining companies have plenty of money to throw at the problem and filed an appeal, challenging this dismissal.

Trump has made it clear that if elected, he would roll back protections and open the Superior National Forest up for copper-sulfide mining. Trump’s allies in Congress have pushed though a bill that would open the area around the Boundary Waters to copper-sulfide mining. The infamous Project 2025 has made it clear that paving the way for proposed copper-sulfide mining near the Boundary Waters would be a priority for the new administration. 

Whatever your political views, whatever candidate you supported, or did not support, the danger to the Boundary Waters is very real. Threats are coming in from multiple directions.

Minnesota State Results

On a state level, the 2024 elections were an opportunity to secure a true “clean-water majority” in the Minnesota Legislature — one that champions protective measures for the Boundary Waters and takes decisive action against threats posed by proposed copper-nickel sulfide mines. 

Though the Democratic Farmer Labor Party (DFL) held majorities in both chambers, events in the past year have shown that party control alone isn’t enough to advance measures to protect our clean water. Earlier this year, DFL party leadership canceled a hearing for the Prove It First Bill, despite broad support for the bill. This legislation, which would require proof that sulfide mining can be done safely before any new mine is permitted, has been blocked by party leadership who have been intimidated by special interests. 

Many statewide candidates endorsed by Friends of the Boundary Waters Action Network won, bringing us closer to a clean water majority in both the Minnesota House and Senate. We are working with partners in both chambers to defend against the looming threat from the federal government.

With water being Minnesota’s most vital natural resource and a unifying issue across political lines, these elections could determine whether the state finally takes meaningful legislative action to protect its legendary waters or continues to defer to mining interests at the expense of environmental protection.

We are all living at a time of great uncertainty. With so much up for debate, there can be no debate about the Boundary Waters. The need to protect it is absolute. We haven’t stopped fighting. Despite this setback, we are continuing with the long game and with you, will work to ensure the Boundary Waters stays wild and pristine for this and future generations.