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

Donald Trump has removed two dates as 'fee-free' days at National Parks, and added his own birthday to the calendar.

The two days which have been taken off the calendar include Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Juneteenth.

Both of these days are related to the struggle for the rights and liberties of African Americans throughout the country's history.

Martin Luther King Jr Day, which falls on the third Monday of January, commemorates the life and work of civil rights activist Martin Luther King Jr, who was assassinated in Memphis on 4 April 1968.

Meanwhile, Juneteenth, a portmanteau of the date June nineteenth, marks the enforcement of the abolition of slavery in the state of Texas.

This marked the end of the US Civil War and the official abolition of slavery throughout the United States, which happened on that date in 1865.

The Grand Canyon is a major US national park (Bob Riha, Jr./Getty Images)

Trump's move comes amid a broader pushback by his administration against any holiday which is associated with Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI).

Instead, Trump has introduced his own birthday, which falls on Flag Day, as a day with no admission fee to national parks.

A statement detailed the days that will be eligible for US residents to have free admission, with June 14 listed as 'Flag Day/President Trump’s birthday'.

However, not everyone will be eligible for this under other new rules which the administration plans to introduce under the newly-introduced 'America-first pricing'.

Under this rule, non-US residents will still be charged on days that US residents don't have to pay.

Not only that, but at 11 of the most popular parks across the US, they may also have to pay an additional $100 on top of the standard entrance fee.

Yellowstone National Park (I RYU/VCG via Getty Images)

Meanwhile, an annual pass for people who are not resident in the US will go up to $250, while for residents it will be just $80.

It comes as a result of an executive order from Trump, which said that residents should get 'preferential treatment with respect to any remaining recreational access rules, including permitting or lottery rules'.

Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum said in a statement: "These policies ensure that U.S. taxpayers, who already support the National Park System, continue to enjoy affordable access, while international visitors contribute their fair share to maintaining and improving our parks for future generations."

There was also an additional measure put in for motorcycles, with 'America the Beautiful' passes now covering two motorbikes instead of one.

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