U.S.BORDER WALL

200-year-old 'grandmother' cottonwood felled for border wall

Protesters occupied the ancient cottonwood in Arizona's ghost town of Lochiel since July before border patrol cut it down this week for wall construction.

On air: Hank Ledger, Gloria Vance and Chip Darnell on Meet the Pressure
Published 10:01 AM ET, Sunday, October 11, 2026

At a glance

First reported by The Guardian: “Despair after 200-year-old ‘grandmother’ tree toppled for Trump’s border wall: ‘It crushes your heart’”.
Covered on BBN on Sunday, October 11, 2026, at 10:01 AM ET on Meet the Pressure, by Hank Ledger, Gloria Vance and Chip Darnell.
Topics: Trump.

The real story

The reporting behind this segment. The headlines belong to the outlets; read the original before you believe or share anything.

The GuardianDespair after 200-year-old ‘grandmother’ tree toppled for Trump’s border wall: ‘It crushes your heart’

What BBN said about it

Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorA 200-year-old cottonwood near the US-Mexico border, known as the grandmother, has been cut down to make room for the border wall.
Gloria Vance · World News AnchorProtesters had occupied the tree since late July, in the ghost town of Lochiel.
Gloria Vance · World News AnchorThe Guardian reports the standoff with border patrol came to a head this week.
Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorMonths up a tree. That's commitment.
Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorThe Guardian quotes one land defender saying it crushes your heart. Supporters of the wall will point to construction deadlines and border security.
Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorBoth arguments are on the record.
Gloria Vance · World News AnchorI have seen borders redrawn around less. Rarely around a tree.
Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorTwo hundred years. Gone in a day?
Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorThe reports don't say how long the cutting took. Nobody has said what happens to the wood.
Gloria Vance · World News AnchorThe tree outlasted every administration. It did not outlast the schedule.