On Aug. 18, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit issued a temporary administrative injunction to halt a congressionally mandated land exchange that would have given control of a large tract of land in Tonto National Forest in Arizona to international mining giants Rio Tinto and BHP.

The court's order stated that it was taking no position on the merits of the case but was acting to "preserve the status quo" as it expedites a review of the legal challenge brought by the San Carlos Apache Tribe and other plaintiffs.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump criticized the delay, saying the project was needed to create 3,800 jobs and secure a vital resource.

"Our Country, quite simply, needs Copper—AND NOW!" he said in an Aug. 19 post.

"It is so sad that Radical Left Activists can do this, and affect the lives of so many people. Those that fought it are Anti-American, and representing other Copper competitive Countries."

The ruling came shortly after Trump met with the CEOs of the two companies at the White House, a meeting that highlighted his administration's support for the mine.

The United States Forest Service is listed as a defendant alongside Resolution Copper Mining LLC.

The appeals court is scheduled to hear arguments for the case in September.

On July 30, Trump signed an executive order creating a 50 percent tariff on imports of semi-finished copper products and intensive copper derivative products. The same order raised the possibility of further tariffs on imported copper in the future.

In a statement, Resolution Copper, a joint venture between Rio Tinto and BHP, called the injunction a temporary pause so the court can consider "eleventh hour motions" by the San Carlos Apache Tribe and other plaintiffs.

"We are confident the court will ultimately affirm the district court's well-reasoned orders explaining in detail why the congressionally directed land exchange satisfies all applicable legal requirements," the statement said.