President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that his administration would begin charging foreign tourists more to enter America&#8217;s national parks than U.S. residents.
The announcement at a rally in Iowa came as he signed two executive orders dealing with national parks, including one that directs Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum to “appropriately” raise prices of entrance fees and recreation passes for non-residents. 
“To fund improvements and enhanced experiences across the park systems,” Trump said. “I’ve just signed an executive order to raise entrance fees for foreign tourists while keeping prices low for Americans. And we’re going to do that. The National Parks will be about America First, we’re gonna take it America First.” 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> announces that entrance fees for foreign tourists at National Parks will be raised in order to fund park improvements and enhanced experiences: &#8220;The National Parks will be about AMERICA FIRST&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/fIUB7ET0tC">pic.twitter.com/fIUB7ET0tC</a>
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1940943247083520128?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 4, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/07/making-america-beautiful-again-by-improving-our-national-parks/">executive order</a> states that the additional funds raised will be used to enhance park infrastructure and make the parks more accessible and affordable for Americans. 
“From the awe-inspiring Grand Canyon to the tranquility of the Great Smoky Mountains, America&#8217;s national parks have provided generations of American families with unforgettable memories,” Trump wrote in the executive order. “It is the policy of my Administration to preserve these opportunities for American families in future generations by increasing entry fees for foreign tourists, improving affordability for United States residents, and expanding opportunities to enjoy America&#8217;s splendid national treasures.”
<a class="c-link" href="https://get.dailywire.com/freedom/?utm_medium=website&amp;utm_source=editorial&amp;utm_campaign=freedom&amp;utm_content=freedomeditorial" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="https://get.dailywire.com/freedom/?utm_medium=website&amp;utm_source=editorial&amp;utm_campaign=freedom&amp;utm_content=freedomeditorial" data-sk="tooltip_parent" aria-describedby="sk-tooltip-2388">JULY 4 SALE: Get Six Months Of DW+ Free</a>
The order also directs Burgum to establish rules granting American residents preferential treatment for permitting or in situations where a lottery system restricts entry to certain areas. 
In recent years, there has been an increase in tourism at national parks, with a <a href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/socialscience/visitor-use-statistics-dashboard.htm">record</a> 331.9 million visitors in 2024. In response, more and more parks, such as Arches in Utah and Rocky Mountain in Colorado, have begun implementing timed-entry programs. 
The order also rescinded an Obama-era <a href="https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2017/01/19/2017-01383/promoting-diversity-and-inclusion-in-our-national-parks-national-forests-and-other-public-lands-and">executive order</a> that called for the National Park Service to promote diversity and inclusion, including in the workforce. 
The other executive order signed by Trump on Thursday created the “Make America Beautiful Commission,&#8221; composed of Burgum, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, and other cabinet officials. 
The commission was tasked with advising the president on how to “responsibly conserve America&#8217;s national treasures and natural resources” and “developing policies to recover fish and wildlife populations through collaboration rather than regulation.”
The commission was instructed “to expand access to public lands, national parks, national forests, and wildlife refuges while promoting a wide range of outdoor recreation opportunities like hunting, fishing, hiking, biking, skiing, climbing, boating, off-roading, and wildlife viewing.”

US-POLITICS-HOLIDAY-TRUMP

Trump Admin To Adjust National Park Fees To Prioritize American Families Over Foreign Tourists

Donald Trump

Doug Burgum

Executive

Executive Orders

General

National Park Service

Politics

Tourism

A security camera captured the moment when a tourist broke a Swarovski crystal-studded museum display dubbed the “Van Gogh” chair after sitting in it.
The incident occurred in April, but has been circulating on social media after just being released by the Palazzo Maffei museum, which is located in the Italian city of Verona.
The video shows a woman at first pretending to sit in the chair art piece, which was made by Italian artist Nicola Bolla. Next, her male companion gets into the same pose, only in his case puts his weight on the chair, causing both of the front legs to buckle. The man stumbles before the camera captures the pair rushing out of the room.
“They waited for the staff to leave the room,” museum director Vanessa Carlon said in a video posted on its social media. “And then … off they went, indifferent to what had happened.”
“Sometimes we lose our brains to take a picture, and we don’t think about the consequences,” Carlon added. “Of course it was an accident, but these two people left without speaking to us—that isn’t an accident. This is a nightmare for any museum.”
<iframe loading="lazy" title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/lUpa_gM9_Ww?si=Lh14F6HPsGQoqf74" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
“On the chair was a note warning people not to touch, and of course it is placed on a pedestal, so it’s quite clear it’s not a real chair,” Carlotta Menegazzo, an art historian who works at Palazzo Maffei, told <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn05dd4pz0jo">BBC</a>. She added that the sculpture only resembled a chair, but was actually crafted out of crystal-studded tinfoil.
The piece, which was inspired by Van Gogh&#8217;s famous 1888 painting &#8220;Van Gogh&#8217;s Chair,&#8221; has since been repaired by the museum’s restoration department and is on display to the public again. Reps said the video has been released as a reminder to visitors about how to treat the artwork at their facility.
&#8220;Art must be respected!&#8221; the museum said in a press release, per USA Today. They added that the video was released &#8220;to make this serious event an opportunity for reflection for everyone.&#8221;
The couple has not been identified.

Van Gogh chair

WATCH: Man Sits On, Breaks Swarovski-Encrusted ‘Van Gogh Chair’ At Italian Museum

Italy

World

An American tourist was impaled on a spiked fence at the Colosseum in Rome on Friday after climbing the structure in an attempt to snap a photo, per multiple news reports.
The 47-year-old American, currently living in Taiwan, climbed the fence to get the photo and lost his footing, causing him to become stuck on the pointed top. Italian outlets, including Informazione.it and Il Messagero, <a href="https://www.ilmessaggero.it/roma/centro_storico/turista_infilzato_cancello_colosseo_scavalca_cosa_e_successo-8813470.html">reported</a> that the man was screaming in agony for about twenty minutes before emergency personnel arrived to free him.
Per Il Messaggero, the unidentified man was administered a sedative so he could be removed from the spikes in a process that took an additional twenty minutes. Once freed, he was transported to a hospital where he received emergency surgery, including more than 80 stitches.
The outlet noted that the man was unable to speak for several hours after the accident, but was questioned by local police on Sunday. All that’s been reported so far is that the man was on vacation with family and friends. The police have not yet released specific details on how the accident occurred.
&#8220;It was terrible,&#8221; a witness told the outlet. &#8220;I saw that man impaled on a railing and he couldn&#8217;t free himself.&#8221;
There has also been talk of what punishments the man should face for breaking the rules. In 2023, a British tourist made headlines for carving his and his girlfriend’s names into the Colosseum walls. The crime meant he faced up to five years in prison and fines up to €15,000 ($16,850).
Then, a few weeks later, a Swiss girl attempted to do the same thing, per <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/teenage-girl-colosseum-carve-name-rome-b2376482.html">The Independent</a>. 
“It is the first time I have managed to film an act of vandalism at the Colosseum but in six years I have seen dozens, there are also those who rip off parts of the wall,” David Battaglino told Repubblica Roma at the time. “They even spat on me once for scolding a boy.”

Colosseum

American Tourist Impaled On Colosseum’s Spiked Fence After Climbing Up To Snag A Photo

American Tourist Impaled On Colosseum's Spiked Fence After Climbing Up To Snag A Photo

Crime

Rome

California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom is aggressively courting Canadian tourists, painting the state as a safe haven from the Trump administration.
Newsom launched a tourism campaign targeted at Canadians on Monday as the state attempts to bring back tourists who have canceled vacations in the United States over President Donald Trump&#8217;s treatment of Canada. In one video message, Newsom said California and Canada &#8220;have always shared so much in common.&#8221;
“Sure, you-know-who is trying to stir things up back in D.C., but don’t let that ruin your beach plans,” the governor added. “California is the ultimate playground — over 2,000 miles from Washington and a world away in mindset. From our iconic beaches and national parks to world-class wine, food, and outdoor adventure — there’s something here for everyone.&#8221;
<iframe loading="lazy" title="#California Launches #Tourism Campaign Welcoming #Canadians  #shorts #visitcalifornia #canada #news" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6b_p6TMduT8?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
“Here in California, we have plenty of sunshine and a whole lot of love for our neighbors up north,” Newsom stated at the end of the video.
As Trump hits Canada with a 25% tariff and repeatedly suggests that the nation should become the 51st state, some Canadians are nixing their plans to travel to the United States. Last year, nearly two million Canadians visited California, spending around $3.7 billion in the Golden State, the governor&#8217;s office stated, according to The Los Angeles Times.
Canada has also started a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/canada-buys-ads-in-a-dozen-states-against-trumps-tariffs?author=Tim+Pearce&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Canada+Buys+Ads+In+A+Dozen+States+Against+Trump%E2%80%99s+Tariffs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">billboard campaign</a> in the United States against Trump&#8217;s tariffs. According to Global Affairs Canada spokesman John Babcock, the billboards are part of an “educational campaign to inform Americans” about the costs of tariffs.
Earlier this month, the Canadian government retaliated with a 25% tariff on over $20 billion worth of U.S. goods.
Despite President Trump <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/we-agree-on-many-things-trump-had-extremely-productive-call-with-canadas-new-liberal-pm?author=Zach+Jewell&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=%E2%80%98We+Agree+On+Many+Things%E2%80%99%3A+Trump+Had+%E2%80%98Extremely+Productive+Call%E2%80%99+With+Canada%E2%80%99s+New+Liberal+PM" target="_blank" rel="noopener">saying</a> he had an &#8220;extremely productive call&#8221; with Canada&#8217;s new Liberal Prime Minister Mark Carney, the trade war between the two countries has shown no signs of cooling down in the near future.
In the meantime, Newsom — who is expected to run for president in 2028 — is reaching out to Canadian tourists and seeking to further develop economic and political relationships with Canada. On Monday, the governor <a href="https://x.com/CAgovernor/status/1911871226504790514" target="_blank" rel="noopener">met</a> with British Columbia Premier David Eby &#8220;to discuss opportunities for expanding California&#8217;s partnership with British Columbia on climate &amp; trade.&#8221;
&#8220;As tariffs threaten jobs &amp; businesses on both sides of the border, California remains a steady, reliable partner open for business,&#8221; Newsom said.

Gavin Newsom/Canadians

‘So Much In Common’: Newsom Courts Canadians With New Tourism Campaign

California

Canada

Gavin Newsom

Global Politics

U.S.

The Chinese government appeared to take aim at the U.S. tourism industry on Wednesday as the trade war between the two countries <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/china-hits-back-with-massive-retaliatory-tariff-after-trumps-104-midnight-tariff-goes-into-effect?topStoryPosition=undefined&amp;row=1&amp;elementPosition=0&amp;rowType=Top+Stories&amp;rowHeadline=Top+Stories&amp;author=Leif+Le+Mahieu&amp;title=China+Hits+Back+With+Massive+Retaliatory+Tariff+After+Trump%E2%80%99s+104%25+Midnight+Tariff+Goes+Into+Effect&amp;category=News" target="_blank" rel="noopener">intensifies</a>.
The Chinese Ministry of Culture and Tourism warned citizens about traveling to the United States, citing “deterioration of China-U.S. economic and trade relations and the domestic security situation in the United States,&#8221; The Wall Street Journal <a href="https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/stock-market-trump-tariffs-trade-war-04-09-25/card/china-warns-citizens-about-travel-and-study-in-the-u-s--k8SG6IWgaRoeiug3rcRC?mod=WSJ_home_supertoppermiddle_lctimeline" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>. Chinese citizens traveling to the United States, either for tourism or education, generated $20.2 billion for American services exports in 2023, according to the WSJ.
The Ministry of Culture and Tourism added in a statement that it is reminding &#8220;Chinese tourists to fully assess the risks of traveling to the United States and be cautious.&#8221; The communist government issued a similar travel advisory amid the U.S.-China trade war during Trump&#8217;s first term.
China&#8217;s travel warning comes as the country responds to President Donald Trump&#8217;s 104% tariff with an 84% tariff on American goods. Chinese leaders appear to be digging in as the trade war with the United States heats up, vowing to &#8220;fight to the end.&#8221;
Trump said on Tuesday that China &#8220;wants to make a deal, badly, but they don’t know how to get it started.&#8221; After China retaliated to Trump&#8217;s &#8220;Liberation Day&#8221; tariffs, the president hit China with an additional 50% tariff Wednesday morning, which raised the total tax on the communist country&#8217;s goods to 104%.
The White House said on Tuesday that “It was a mistake for China to retaliate,&#8221; but added that Trump &#8220;will be incredibly gracious&#8221; if Chinese leaders decide &#8220;to make a deal.&#8221; Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent called China the &#8220;worst offenders&#8221; in the global economy on Wednesday, arguing that &#8220;this escalation is a loser for them.&#8221;
During a Q&amp;A at a banking summit on Wednesday morning, Bessent <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/scott-bessent-says-trump-is-prioritizing-main-street-over-wall-street-in-speech-to-bankers?row=3&amp;elementPosition=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+Carousel&amp;author=Zach+Jewell&amp;title=Scott+Bessent+Says+Trump+Is+Prioritizing+Main+Street+Over+Wall+Street+In+Speech+To+Bankers&amp;category=News&amp;rowHeadline=Latest+News" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> the Trump administration would look to strike deals with allies around the world before approaching China &#8220;as a group.&#8221; The Trump administration said it is preparing for trade talks with numerous countries, starting with meetings with Japan and South Korea.
Japan, Asia&#8217;s second-biggest economy behind China, will likely &#8220;get priority&#8221; in trade negotiations with the Trump administration since it was one of the first countries to come forward with a willingness to negotiate, <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2025-04-08/supply-chain-latest-japan-talks-with-us-on-tariffs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according</a> to Bessent.

China

China Targets U.S. Tourism Industry, Warns Citizens Against Travel Amid Trade War

Communist China

Economy

Tariffs

Trade War

According to federal officials, a potential spying threat has been posed by Chinese nationals posing as tourists who tested the security of military bases as well as other sensitive sites — and roughly 100 reported incidents have occurred.
The officials explained that quite often the incidents occur in rural areas where tourists are not typically found, and the nationals address the security guards with what appears to be scripted language, not normal discourse. When they are stopped, they insist they have simply gotten lost.
According to <a href="https://www.wsj.com/politics/national-security/chinese-gate-crashers-at-u-s-bases-spark-espionage-concerns-cdef8187?mod=e2tw" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Wall Street Journal,</a> the Defense Department and FBI joined other agencies to study the issue, finding that the Chinese nationals were required to transmit the information they found back to the Communist Chinese government.
“The advantage the Chinese have is they are willing to throw people at collection in large numbers,” Emily Harding, a former deputy staff director at the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, told the Journal. “If a few of them get caught, it will be very difficult for the U.S. government to prove anything beyond trespassing, and those who don’t get caught are likely to collect something useful.”
Some of the Chinese nationals gained unauthorized access to military bases “by speeding through security checkpoints,” Sue Gough, a Pentagon spokeswoman, admitted, adding, “These individuals are often cited criminally, barred from future installation access and escorted off-base.”
When the Journal contacted the Biden White House and the Department of Homeland Security, they declined to comment.
“The relevant claims are purely ill-intentioned fabrications,” Liu Pengyu, a spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Washington, declared, snapping, “We urge the relevant U.S. officials to abandon the Cold War mentality, stop groundless accusations, and do more things that are conducive to enhancing mutual trust between the two countries and friendship between the two peoples.”
One case involved Chinese nationals who said they were tourists attempting to force their way past guards at the military base in Fort Wainwright, Alaska, the home to the Army’s 11th Airborne Division. Chinese nationals have reportedly repeatedly photographed the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico, the <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/pdf/449089main_White_Sands_Missile_Range_Fact_Sheet.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">largest</a> overland military test range in the U.S.
Chinese nationals were reportedly found swimming near a Key West, Florida, military facility. They claimed they were tourists. Other Chinese nationals seemed to be scuba diving near Cape Canaveral, where spy satellites are sent into space, according to the Journal.
Last February, the U.S. military used an F-22 Raptor using a single air-to-air A9X sidewinder missile to bring down a Chinese spy balloon off the coast of South Carolina.
In early June, House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Turner (R-OH) <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/unbelievable-aggression-by-china-house-intel-chairman-responds-to-chinese-military-provocations-against-u-s" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told</a> ABC News&#8217; “This Week,” &#8220;What we&#8217;re seeing is an unbelievable aggression by China. If you look at the balloon that flew over the United States, the Chinese police stations, the aggressiveness against our both planes and ships in international water, it goes right to the heart of what President Xi said when he stood next to Putin in Russia, where he said, they&#8217;re trying to make change that had not happened in 100 years.&#8221;
“When you have, for example, a balloon that transits all across the United States, and the administration doesn&#8217;t respond until the game&#8217;s over, until it&#8217;s over the Atlantic, you start &#8212; and when you have police stations that have been operating within the United States, that took forever in order for them to take action, you get this sort of sense of permissiveness, that I think the administration needs to step up and make clear that China has identified itself as an adversary, and we&#8217;re going to treat it as such,” he added.
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/unbelievable-aggression-by-china-house-intel-chairman-responds-to-chinese-military-provocations-against-u-s">&#8216;Unbelievable Aggression By China&#8217;: House Intel Chairman Responds To Chinese Military Provocations Against U.S.</a>

White Sands National Park – White Sands Missile Range, NM

Roughly 100 Incidents Where Chinese Nationals Tried To Access U.S. Military, Sensitive Sites: Report

Military Bases

Spying