Trump removes MLK Day and Juneteenth from national parks calendar and adds his own birthday instead

Donald Trump has removed Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Juneteenth as “fee-free” days at U.S. National Parks and replaced them with his own birthday.

Both of the removed holidays commemorate critical moments in African American history. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, observed on the third Monday of January, honors the civil rights leader who was assassinated in 1968. Juneteenth, celebrated on June 19, marks the official end of slavery in the United States in 1865.

Trump’s administration has framed the change as part of a wider opposition to holidays connected to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). Instead, June 14, which coincides with Flag Day and Trump’s birthday, is now a no-admission-fee day for national parks.

However, under new “America-first pricing” rules, only U.S. residents are eligible for free entry on these days. Non-U.S. visitors will still be charged, and at 11 of the country’s most popular parks, international guests may have to pay an extra $100 on top of standard fees.

Annual passes for non-residents will also rise to $250, compared with $80 for U.S. residents, reflecting the administration’s policy to prioritize Americans’ access to national parks.

Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum defended the changes, stating that U.S. taxpayers, who fund the park system, should receive affordable access while international visitors contribute fairly to park maintenance.

The executive order also updated “America the Beautiful” passes for motorcycles, now covering two bikes instead of one, in addition to the broader changes in park admission policies.

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