‘Plastic won’t affect a shark’: Trump signs order to ban paper straws

On February 10, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order reinstating plastic straws, reversing a policy set by Joe Biden to phase out single-use plastics in federal agencies by 2035.

Declaring paper alternatives unreliable, Trump said plastic straws were making a comeback, criticizing paper ones for being ineffective. He claimed that they often break or even “explode” when used with hot drinks, calling the situation “ridiculous.”

Environmental advocates have long pushed for the reduction of plastic waste, citing its harmful impact on marine life. Trump dismissed these concerns, saying he did not believe plastic straws posed a threat to sharks, adding that they “munch their way through the ocean” regardless.

White House staff secretary Will Scharf defended the decision, stating that the environmental impact was “entirely debatable” and that many Americans were frustrated with paper straws.

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