1:42 p.m., downtown Salt Lake City
The crowd of protesters blocking State Street and 100 South in Salt Lake City has dispersed, with a smaller crowd walking north on State Street back to the Utah Capitol.
1:22 p.m., Salt Lake City International Airport
As Air Force One prepared for departure with Trump, ZInke and Sens. Hatch and Lee onboard, the president gave Utah House Speaker Greg Hughes a tour of the plane. Hughes is not flying, but said he enjoyed the tour.
1 p.m., State Street in Salt Lake City
About 10 police officers in riot gear, one carrying what looks like a tear gas gun, ordered a crowd of protesters to disperse.
In reaction, about 250 people kneeled in the middle of State Street between South Temple and 100 South, just moments after President Donald Trump signed new declarations reducing the size of the Bears Ears and Grand Staircase national monuments.
Another 250 people stood by on the sidewalks watching the increasingly tense protest.
12:52 p.m. Utah Capitol
Protesters are moving downtown, and those remaining at the Capitol are being asked by police to move to make way for the motorcade to exit.
12:27 p.m., Utah Capitol
Trump says Utah’s natural beauty is exceeded only by the warmth of its citizens, its “greatest treasure.”
Federal officials designated Grand Staircase-Escalante Monument and Bears Ears National monument over the objections of Utahns and elected officials, Trump said, preventing families from recreating and separating American Indians from their ancestral lands.
The shrinking of these monuments will restore the land to Utahns, Trump said, who know and “love the land the best.”
Trump then signed the proclamation to modify Bears Ears National monument, as Sens. Hatch and Lee looked on.
Noon, Utah Capitol
“He is completely disregarding the will of the people and selling off the land to the highest bidder for fossil fuel interests,” said Suzanne Attix of Salt Lake City. “I’ve been backpacking in Bears Ears and it was so amazing. You’re out in the middle of nowhere and there are pools you can swim in and waterfalls and it’s disgusting that we’re not taking care of these natural spaces. I have family in the oil business and they say it’s not even worth it the effort to extract the oil from Bears Ears.”
11:20 a.m., Welfare Square
Trump’s motorcade arrived at the LDS Church’s Welfare Square, where the president is meeting with LDS Church officials after a quick ride.
Trump met with President Henry B. Eyring of the LDS First Presidency, senior apostle Russell M. Nelson, Presiding Bishop Gérald Caussé and Relief Society President Jean B. Bingham.
Adam Newbould, 22, from England, was outside Welfare Square in counter protest to the protestors: “I’m here because I believe in what Trump stands for as in the voice for people who have been forgotten and excluded from modern politics ... I believe that Trump over here has emerged as a man of the people.”
Ellen Young, 29, said: “I’m just disgusted with Trump. Disgusted for everything he stands for and is about. I woke up last year after the election and it was a nightmare... why not let him know everything he stands for is just not okay with me.”
Freeways were closed for the trek, backing up traffic on I-215.
Small groups of folks lined the airport exit, some with Trump-Pence signs. The motorcade, which appeared to be at least 21 vehicles long, exited at 600 South and then turned on 300 West and again on 800 South, passing a large mural to Bears Ears.
More onlookers awaited, including one with a “Run Mitt, Run” sign and across the street, a sign aimed at Utah’s senior senator: “Hatch another plan.”
A small gaggle of protestors held signs just outside the facility, with one woman shouting loudly “Shame on you.” SLCPD and UHP vehicle are ringing the buildings at the moment.
11:45 a.m., Salt Lake City International Airport
Nancy Volmer, spokeswoman for the Salt Lake City International Airport, said the airport had a ground stop in place, which caused “minimal delays” — about 15 minutes before and after Trump’s arrival and departure — for incoming and outgoing flights.
11:40 a.m., Salt Lake City
Supporters lined the road for Trump’s arrival, one woman with a pink Make America Great Again hat and many others taking photos. There were protesters along the way, one woman holding a sign that simply said “No!” and another woman who held up a very emphatic thumbs down.
One protester had a sign that read “Hatch a better plan,” with others that read “Dump Trump” and “Protect Wild Utah.”
11:30 a.m.
Here’s the order of today’s speaker at the Capitol:<br>Utah House Speaker Greg Hughes<br>San Juan Commissioner Rebecca Benally<br>Gov. Gary Herbert<br>Interior Sec. Ryan Zinke<br>Sen. Hatch<br>Trump
10:48 a.m., Salt Lake City International Airport
President Donald Trump descended the steps of Air Force One to cheers, parting his arms to adulation. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, in a cowboy hat, and Utah Sens. Orrin Hatch and Mike Lee walked off with him.
Trump greeted Utah Gov. Gary Herbert and Speaker Greg Hughes, who were waiting for him at the bottom of the stairs. Trump then approached the waiting crowds behind a ropeline, seeming to enjoy that one family had a Trump impersonating teen son with a blonde wig and makeup on.
Trump said “I like this kid, I like this kid!” of the miniature Trump.
10:40 a.m., Utah State Capitol
As a Department of Public Safety helicopter circles overhead, hundreds are gathered at the Utah Capitol as President Donald Trump arrives in Utah.
Some are in Make America Great Again hats. Many more are holding pro-monument signs: “Keep our monuments yuge.” “Ax Zinke Not Bears Ears.” “Keep your dirty little hands off our beautiful lands.”
10:09 a.m., Utah State Capitol
Rep. Rob Bishop, R-Utah, said that Trump’s move to shrink Bears Ears and Grand Staircase national monuments “is just the beginning.”
He added, “The hard part starts now. It was easy to come to where we are today. Now we are going to have to up our game and put into statute the protections we are talking about today. It’s not that easy.”
He adds he believes the president’s action is legal. “It’s been done in the past. It can happen again.”
Bishop, and other members of Utah’s federal delegation, will hold a news conference Tuesday at the U.S. Capitol to unveil new legislation.
Utah House Majority Leader Brad Wilson, R-Kaysville, also praised the president at the Capitol for apparently listening to resolutions that the Legislature passed this year calling for a reduction in size of the monuments.
“We appreciate him very much listening to our resolutions earlier this year. This is very important for the state, both to have this issue resolved in a way that we think is more equitable — but also to have our voice hear. It’s great,” Wilson said.
6:24 a.m., White House lawn
President Donald Trump briefly talked to reporters before boarding a helicopter to take him to Air Force One. He touched on the guilty plea of former National Security Director Michael Flynn and the recent Senate passage of a tax bill, as well as his trip to Utah.
“We’re going to Utah — we’re going to be doing something that the state of Utah and others have wanted to be done for many, many years,” Trump told reporters this morning. “It will be one of the great, really, events in this country for a long time. So important for states’ rights and so important for the people of Utah — and I know a lot of you will be coming with me, we’ll have a lot of time to talk.”
Air Force One took off a little late, but the president, along with Utah Sens. Orrin Hatch and Mike Lee and Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, are still expected to arrive in Utah around 10:50 a.m.
