The Battle for the State Parks: Newsom Opens the Gates on MLK Day Specifically to Spite the White House
If you needed proof that everything in 2026 is a political weapon, look no further than your local trailhead in State Parks.
Today, while the federal government (under President Trump’s new directive) has reportedly scrapped the traditional “Free Entrance Day” at National Parks for MLK Day, California Governor Gavin Newsom has decided to go rogue.Newsom announced free entry to over 200 California State Parks today, explicitly framing it as a counter-move to what he calls the “whitewashing” of civil rights history.
California: The MLK Day Power Struggle
The press release didn’t mince words. It accused the Trump administration of swapping the MLK free day for… Trump’s own birthday later in the year.
The “Petty” Politics of Nature Let’s be sharp here. This isn’t just about hiking. This is Newsom positioning California as the “Anti-Trump” state. By making the parks free specifically because the Feds won’t, he is turning a family picnic into a protest vote.
Is it effective? For Californians saving $10 on parking, sure. But for the rest of the country, it highlights a grim reality: We can’t even agree on whether we should pay to see a tree anymore without making it about the President.
The Verdict: Go for a hike. Enjoy the free entry. But don’t pretend you’re just walking in nature—you’re walking in a political theater.
