Trump replaced a beloved park image with his own face — critics call it “pathetic” as lawsuit hits immediately

When the National Park Foundation chooses the photo for the following year’s pass, the process involves a nationwide picture contest. The 2026 pass was meant to showcase a picture of Glacier National Park in Montana, but it will now feature a photo of Donald Trump‘s scowling face.

The Center for Biological Diversity’s executive director Kierán Suckling was the first to raise an alarm, saying, “Blotting out the majesty of America’s national parks with a closeup of his own face is Trump’s crassest, most ego-driven action yet.”

Almost makes you want to not by a park pass. Seems too that the delineation of resident vs non-resident as well as Trump's mug on the pass violates more than one law or requirement. Please make this self-promoter go away. pic.twitter.com/wDlTeDjCjA

— Aris MacDonald (@Aris68204619) December 11, 2025

Suckling continued:

“It’s disgusting of Trump to politicize America’s most sacred refuge by pasting his face over the national parks in the same way he slaps his corporate name on buildings, restaurants, and golf courses. The national parks are not a personal branding opportunity. They’re the pride and joy of the American people.”

The Trump administration is justifying the move by claiming it’s a celebration of the 250th anniversary of the United States of America — the same reasoning he used for throwing a military parade for his birthday. It’s the sort of justification the second Trump administration has specialized in. Perhaps it’s because of the disgrace he left his first term with that has made him so pedantic about curating his legacy, sometimes even attacking the Smithsonian for keeping records of the insurrection.

Another justification Trump has offered is the idea of placing his image alongside George Washington. But the Center for Biological Diversity isn’t buying it. The organization has filed a lawsuit in federal court in Washington, D.C., noting that federal law requires the winning photo from the annual competition to appear on the passes.

Deeply embarrassing and petty

This isn’t the only change Trump is planning for the way Americans will visit the national parks in 2026. Reportedly, he is also looking to end the tradition of all federal holidays being free-entry days. He has specifically targeted holidays commemorating the contributions of Black Americans. Martin Luther King Jr. Day will no longer be a free day at the parks, and neither will Juneteenth. You don’t have to be a genius to figure out why Trump is targeting holidays that celebrate Black Americans.

On X, users are questioning how fragile the president’s self-esteem must be for him to continually take steps like this to inflate his ego — especially this late in his life and after all he has already achieved. Another user theorized that some form of narcissism must be at play.

How small do you have to feel and be to have the urge to have your picture next to the first President of the United States on national parks passes …

This is utterly pathetic !

— John Michael Sucker (@JMSucker) December 10, 2025

What he needs is his own category in the DSM called the Trumpian narcissist disorder.
His disorders are really quite something.

— Covfefé Nurse (@Cmb30550583) December 10, 2025

Of course, the main reason Trump had momentum heading into the 2024 elections — which he resoundingly won and reminds the world of at every half-opportunity — is that he promised to reduce the cost of living. But the focus now seems to be less about the economic concerns of Americans and more about lionizing Trump himself.

The Interior Department also released a statement revealing that, starting next year, park fees for international visitors are set to increase.