National Parks Shouldn’t Be Political Billboards

This past weekend, I visited the Antietam Battlefield.  It is a place of beauty, history, and deep reflection.  While there I supported it’s preservation by purchasing an annual park pass.  I was displeased to see that Trump put his face on the pass next to George Washington.

This led me down a rabbit hole of sorts, where I learned several facts –

• The Center for Biological Diversity argues that this design violates a federal requirement that the annual America the Beautiful pass display a winning photograph from a national parks photo contest.

• An artist (Jenny McCarty) designed a sticker to cover both faces in response, featuring animals from various parks.

• The Department of the Interior responded by updating its ‘Void if Altered’ policy to include signature section alterations, as well as stickers and other coverings, as alterations.

Here is the thing: I don’t like fallacy arguments.  What I do like is asking people to evaluate matters with empathy and understanding, and thus the idea of walking a mile in someone else’s shoes.

I admit if it were Bernie Sanders, I would have been excited!  But if a Trump friend calmly expressed that it wasn’t ever supposed to be a person’s face, and now this part of American history is being used as a political pawn – I would have changed my mind.  I’d see that it wasn’t a classy move, and would support a policy like ….

The Center for Biological Diversity’s lawsuit, which “asks a federal court to pull the current pass design and replace it with the original contest winner — the Glacier National Park image.  It also seeks to block the government from featuring a president’s face on future passes (NPR).”

Because our park system is too important to use for clout.  (Don’t even get me started on Mt. Rushmore.)

So I ask Trump supporters, how angry would you be if it were Obama’s face?  Would you support the Center for Biological Diversity’s lawsuit?

I have doubts that it will be a popular non-partisan policy we could all get behind because of sentiments like this…

Not everyone sees a problem with the new design. Vince Vanata, the GOP chairman of Park County, Wyoming, told the Cowboy State Daily that Trump detractors should “suck it up” and accept the park passes, calling them a fitting tribute to America’s 250th birthday this July 4 (NPR).

So my ‘I Voted’ sticker on my pass, which I am uber proud of and did so to protect my National Parks, is a violation of the policy.

Tell me – how does this make you feel?  Do you consider this to be treading on your rights?

Things you can do –

• Contact the Interior Department to express your thoughts on this policy alteration/clarification
• Contact Vince Vanata at ChairmanPCGOP@gmail.com
• Check out the Center for Biological Diversity
• Express your thoughts to the White House
• Tell America 250 that they are being used to justify this by Vanata
• Ask the Park Service to consider its enforcement of the policy
• Reach out to your own local representatives and share your thoughts.
• Spread the word – write an op ed, share this or one of the articles below, silence won’t change anything.

I know it’s a small thing when there are so many other matters to worry about, but we have the right of free speech and the ability to engage in the democratic process, so it’s our duty to exercise them.  Even in these small ways.

Sydney Patton
Warren County Resident

References used for this Op Ed  – 

https://www.msn.com/en-us/politics/government/the-fight-over-trump-s-face-on-the-national-parks-pass-just-took-a-bizarre-turn/ar-AA1TMkua

https://www.npr.org/2026/01/09/nx-s1-5672341/national-park-updates-guidelines-stop-visitors-defacing-trump-picture-pass

https://www.sfgate.com/national-parks/article/sticker-covering-trump-void-national-park-pass-21278091.php

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