WASHINGTON (AP) — The National Park Service will offer free admission to U.S. residents on President Donald Trump’s birthday next year — which also happens to be Flag Day — but is eliminating the benefit for Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Juneteenth.
The new list of free admission days for Americans highlights the Trump administration's controversial stance on civil rights, raising concerns among advocates.
Previously, the list of free days included Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Juneteenth — which is June 19 — but not June 14, Trump’s birthday. The new policy, set to take effect Jan. 1, will also feature increased admission fees for international visitors.
Other designated free admission days in 2026 will include Presidents Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Constitution Day, Veterans Day, and the anniversaries for President Theodore Roosevelt and the Park Service.
By removing Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Juneteenth, the National Park Service has faced backlash for disregarding two pivotal civil rights holidays.
Civil rights leaders have expressed their disappointment, condemning the decision as racist. Harvard Kennedy School's Cornell William Brooks, a former NAACP president, called the changes “raw & rank racism” on social media.
Kristen Brengel, a spokesperson for the National Parks Conservation Association, emphasized that the elimination of Martin Luther King Jr. Day is particularly troubling, noting that many community service projects are traditionally conducted on this day in parks.
Democratic lawmakers joined the opposition, with Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada criticizing the dual removal of civil rights holidays meant to honor Black Americans' struggle for equality.
The National Park Service has yet to respond to inquiries regarding the rationale behind these changes.
Since taking office, Trump has sought to eliminate programs seen as promoting diversity and has faced criticism for downplaying America’s history of racism and civil rights victories.
Some Republican lawmakers have even suggested placing Trump's likeness on Mount Rushmore and the $100 bill, further illustrating the administration's tendency towards self-promotion.
