In a bold and long-overdue move, President Donald J. Trump has once again demonstrated that he’s the only leader willing to unapologetically put Americans first. This week, the Trump administration announced a new executive order that will raise fees on foreign tourists visiting our national parks—while making access easier and more affordable for American families.
The message is clear: America’s national treasures are for *Americans* first, not for tourists who don’t pay a dime in U.S. taxes.
The order, released through the White House website, lays out a simple, common-sense policy. Foreign tourists will now be paying more—just like they do in many countries around the world—while U.S. citizens will get priority access in reservation and permitting systems, ensuring that families who *actually* fund these parks through their taxes aren’t left out.
“Today, President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order investing in our national treasures by increasing fees for foreign tourists visiting our national parks to improve services, access, and affordability for Americans,” the White House statement reads.
At a time when American families are struggling to afford travel and recreation after years of Bidenflation and economic instability, this move ensures that their tax dollars go further—and that they’re not competing with waves of foreign tourists for access to places like Yellowstone, Yosemite, or the Grand Canyon.
The administration made it clear: foreign visitors have long gotten a free ride, paying the same rates as U.S. citizens—despite contributing nothing to the upkeep and preservation of these parks. That ends now. Trump’s new directive ensures fairness and prioritizes those who’ve actually invested in our nation.
And this isn’t just about money. It’s about restoring pride, conserving our land, and honoring the great conservative legacy of American conservationism—one that stretches back to President Teddy Roosevelt.
The increased revenue from foreign tourists will be used to address the massive \$22.9 billion maintenance backlog plaguing our park system—an issue that ballooned under the Biden and Obama administrations. By contrast, it was Trump who passed the Great American Outdoors Act in 2020 to start fixing that very problem. This latest executive order builds directly on that success.
“Increasing entry fees at national parks for foreign visitors will fuel investment in our national parks, reduce the maintenance backlog, construct critical infrastructure improvements, and support conservation projects that improve our majestic national parks,” the White House stated.
And let’s not forget the principle here: Americans *already* pay for these parks through taxes. It’s only fair that foreign tourists contribute more if they want to enjoy them. The rest of the world follows this model—why shouldn’t we?
In classic Trump fashion, the president summed it up perfectly: this is about “Making Our National Parks Beautiful Again” and “Putting Americans First.”
Once again, President Trump is leading with strength, common sense, and a deep respect for America’s heritage.
