Fact Check: Did Trump cut down a 250-year-old tree to pave way for border wall?

LOCHIEL, ARIZONA: A rumor is circulating on social media platforms claiming that President Donald Trump’s administration cut down a 250-year-old cottonwood tree on the southern border in Lochiel, Arizona, to pave the way for the construction of the border wall. The claim has sparked concern and criticism, prompting a fact-check.

Claim: Trump administration cut down a 250-year-old tree

The rumor has been circulating online since October, alleging that the Trump administration has cut down a 250-year-old "grandmother" tree located directly on the southern border in Arizona to make way for border wall construction. 

A YouTube video uploaded last month was accompanied by a caption stating, “A giant cottonwood 'Grandmother Tree' was torn down in Lochiel, Arizona, to expand Trump's border wall. Despite activists trying to protect the 250-year-old tree for more than two months, DHS removed the tree as protesters screamed." 

The claim also spread on Facebook, Instagram, and Reddit, with some users even claiming the tree was not 250 years old but 300, dating back to the early 18th century. 

The posts have collectively garnered millions of views, with many slamming the Trump administration. Others called for a fact-check.

Fact Check: The claim is true, but trees are not more than 150 years old

The claim is true: the data show that the Trump administration cut down a large, old cottonwood tree directly on the border, referred to as a "grandmother" tree.

However, it was not one, but four old Fremont cottonwood trees that were cut to clear land for the president's double border wall construction.

According to reports, the cutting was met with protests, which were overseen by the Department of Homeland Security, and at least one person was handcuffed.

However, data about the trees found that the trees were older than 100 but perhaps well below 250 years old. 

According to a scientist examining a sample of the fourth tree, a tree’s estimated age is at a maximum of 146 years. Hence, the claim is rated as mostly true.

Donald Trump's border wall construction continues

The border wall construction is part of Trump's 2016 presidential campaign, where he repeatedly touted strict immigration policies,  even making repeated promises that Mexico would pay for a wall to help bring down the number of people crossing into the United States over the southern border. 

However, on July 27, crews reportedly received billions of dollars in US government funds for border wall construction.