WASHINGTON President Donald Trump, apparently confirming his disregard for the risks of global climate change, reportedly told the mayor of a small Chesapeake Bay island that could soon disappear to erosion and rising seas that theres no cause for concern.

Trump phoned James Ooker Eskridge, the mayor of Tangier, Virginia, on Monday, a few days after CNN aired a story about the impacts of climate change on the island in the middle of the bay, The Daily Times in Salisbury, Maryland, reports.

Trump said not to worry about sea-level rise,Eskridge told the newspaper.He said, Your island has been there for hundreds of years, and I believe your island will be there for hundreds more.

Its a bold claim, even for a longtime climate-change nonbeliever who has dismissed the phenomenon as bullshit and a Chinese hoax.

Since 1850, nearly 70 percent of Tangiers landmass has been lost, according to a 2015 study by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers scientists. Those scientists predict that in as little as 25 years, erosion and rising seas will sink much of the remaining land, forcing residents to abandon their island homes.

Today, the historic crabbing community is home to about 450 people. The population is overwhelmingly Republican, with roughly 87 percent of island residents who cast a ballot in the 2016 election voting for Trump.

CNN highlighted the voting numbers in its report, likely triggering Trump to reach out to the mayor.

Eskridge told The Daily Times that after introducing himself, Trump said,Youve got one heck of an island there, and Ive just got to talk to that guy. The mayor said he responded by telling Trump just how much island residents appreciate him.

This is a Trump island; we really love you down here, Eskridge said he told the president.

Trump also reportedly urged Eskridge not to worry about the negative response from the CNN report.

Eskridge acknowledged to CNN the threat climate change poses to the islands future, saying, Were running out of land to give up. But he puts his trust in Trump, and said the island would welcome any assistance the president might provide.

They talk about a wall, well take a wall, Eskridge said. Wed like to have a wall all the way around Tangier. Wed love a wall.

Since taking office, Trump has worked toderail Americas actions to combat climate change, promised to revive Americas dying coal industry, and moved toopen now-protected areasof the Arctic and Atlantic oceans to drilling. He has proposed sweeping cuts to the Environmental Protection Agency and other scientific agencies.

This month, Trump followed through on a campaign promise towithdraw the U.S. from thehistoric Paris Agreement a landmark international accord aimed at warding off the worst effects of climate change.