Outrage as Donald Trump replaces two major holidays with his own birthday

Donald Trump has sparked anger with his latest move - removing two important holidays from the National Park free entry list, as well as making a controversial addition of his own.

It's been revealed over the weekend that the US National Park Service (NPS) is removing Martin Luther King Jr Day and Juneteenth from its list of fee-free entrance days.

The 79-year-old US President's birthday, however, which is 14 June and also falls on the Flag Day national holiday, has been added to the list, along with Fourth of July weekend and President Theodore Roosevelt's birthday.

Martin Luther King Jr Day takes place on the third Monday of January each year, or the one closest to his birthday on January 15, and is a federal holiday to honour the life and legacy of the American clergyman, activist, and leader in the Civil Rights Movement.

Meanwhile, Juneteenth, which is on 19 June annually, is celebrated to commemorate the end of slavery in the United States.

Donald Trump's latest move has sparked backlash (Taylor Hill/FilmMagic/Getty Images)

According to the BBC, the shock move is part of Trump's 'modernisation' of the park service, which is set to begin in 2026 and also includes changing the parks' cost structure to favour American citizens over foreign visitors, following a July executive order.

As we say, Trump has added his own birthday to the list, marking it as a 'patriotic' fee-free day.

However, people who are not US citizens will still have to pay fees on the fee-free dates, the National Park Service (NPS) has said.

In the 2026 calendar year, US citizens will be granted free access to national parks on: President's Day, Memorial Day, Flag Day/President Trump's birthday, Independence Day weekend, 110th Birthday of the National Park Service, Constitution Day, Theodore Roosevelt's birthday and Veteran's Day.

While the Biden administration previously deemed both Martin Luther King Jr Day and Juneteenth fee-free days, now, US residents will have to pay $80 (£60) for an annual park service pass.

And for non-residents, the ticket cost has risen to $250 (£187.62), the Department of the Interior announced last month.

Martin Luther King Jr Day and Juneteenth have been removed from the NPS list of fee-free entrance days (Bettmann/Getty Images)

Social media users have been expressing their outrage at the decision, with one Twitter user writing: "This dude is so obsessed with himself it’s insane."

And a second agreeing: "Trump signed away Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Juneteenth from the list of free entry days at all national parks, and replacing them with HIS OWN birthday. Who agrees that Donald Trump is a pathetic bigot?"

While a third wrote: "They dressed it up as ‘modernising’ the park schedule. But what they’re really doing is rewriting national memory. And that’s dangerous when we pretend it’s just policy."

"What reason could you come up with that’s not racism?" questioned a fourth.

And a fifth penned: "Martin Luther King Jr Day and Juneteenth will no longer be holidays that get you into National Parks for free. They’ve been replaced by Donald Trump’s birthday. This is not a parody. National Parks will now recognise Trump’s birthday over black history."

"Who agrees that these things need to be restored by the next President if not sooner when Democrats in control?" asked a sixth.

While someone else demanded: "I will go to the National Parks on Martin Luther King Jr Day and Juneteenth and pay but I refuse to go on trump’s birthday for free."

Tyla has contacted the White House for comment.

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