Only days into his presidency, Donald Trump has continued to push his pro-American jobs mantra, signing executive orders to accelerate the construction of the Dakota Access pipeline and Keystone XL pipeline, halted by President Obama over environmental concerns.
"We're going to renegotiate some of the terms, and if they'd like, we'll see if we can get that pipeline built," Mr Trump said. "A lot of jobs, 28,000 great construction jobs."
The 1900 kilometre Keystone pipeline would run all the way from Canada to Nebraska and connect with other lines to refineries on the Gulf Coast.
The Dakota pipeline has sparked controversy because the proposed route skirts native American Sioux lands in Standing Rock, North Dakota.
The tribe says the pipeline will disturb sacred sites and contaminate drinking waters.
Andrew Hoagland was one of several demonstrators upset by the move.
"To know definitely that they're going to move forward with it is really upsetting," he said. "But we're going to continue to stand and stand strong."
The Standing Rock movement has received backing from several high profile celebrities, including actress Jane Fonda who joined protesters in New York.
"We are in a whole new era," she said. "Where there is a catastrophe that's happened we have to take to the streets. I call (President Trump) the predator-in-chief and we must never normalise him."
But Mr Trump said his decision was about putting American jobs first.
"From now on, we're going to start making pipeline in the United States," he said. "We build it in the United States. We build the pipelines. We want to build the pipe.
"It's going to put a lot of workers, a lot of steelworkers back to work. That's what it has to do with, like we used to in the old days."
The President even went so far to call himself "an environmentalist".
"We are going to make a very short process and we are going to either give you your permits or we are not going to give you your permits," he said.
"But we will tell you quickly and generally speaking we are going to be giving you your permits and we are going to be very friendly."
Aboriginal activist speaks out over move
Aboriginal activist and former NRL star Joe Williams, who joined protests in Standing Rock last year, has condemned the move.
"The drilling and all the construction that's going on here at Standing Rock it's what we call - and we don't like to use this term - but we call it raping your mother," he said. "It's the complete destruction of our earth and our mother and it's everything.
"It's so hurtful to our people and it's our people right across the world that have these same feelings."
Environmental groups claimed the actions were a case of Mr Trump pandering to the oil industry with key members of his administration having previously worked for large energy companies.
The new President has also instituted a media blackout at the Environmental Protection Agency, barring officials from posting updates to social media and speaking to reporters as well as ordering a temporary suspension of grants to the EPA.
Experts have said opponents of the pipelines face a long and difficult legal path if the US government approves their construction.
"Presidents are by and large entitled to take their agencies in a different direction and serve their policy goals," said Wayne D'Angelo, an energy and environmental lawyer with Kelley Drye & Warren in Washington.
Nevertheless, several groups immediately said they would challenge in court any attempt to resume the projects, which have become hot-button political issues at the intersection of environmentalism, Native American tribal rights and energy needs.
Meanwhile, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau reiterated his support for the project.
"I've been on the record for many years supporting it because it leads to economic growth and good jobs," he said.
"This is about the responsible approach on growing the economy creating good jobs for Canadians while we protect the environment for now and for future generations. This is what Canadians expect of us."
-With AP and Reuters
