The president has significant power. With its conservative supermajority, the U.S. Supreme Court seems to want to give Trump more power over independent federal agencies. If the judges vote in favor, it would reinforce the “unitary executive” theory, in which the president exercises direct control over all executive functions. For example, Trump attempted to fire a Democratic commissioner from the Federal Trade Commission.
Indeed, the president has significant power, as evidenced by the Trump administration’s announcement of major changes to the schedule of free admission days at U.S. national parks, effective January 1, 2026. Two symbolic dates—Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Juneteenth, which commemorates the effective end of slavery in the United States—have been removed from the calendar. Goodbye, Dr. King. The country now faces another kind of king. Trump’s birthday has been added to the calendar of free admission to national parks. This is fitting, as June 14 also marks Flag Day in the USA! Three other dates have been added: the 110th anniversary of the National Park Service (August 25), Constitution Day (September 17), and Theodore Roosevelt’s birthday (October 27).
The government refers to these new dates as “patriotic free days” because they reflect Trump’s commitment to making parks “more accessible and affordable” for American citizens. However, international visitors will have to pay more to visit the 11 most popular parks, including the Everglades in Florida. Take advantage of visiting it before January 1! Fortunately, Dry Tortugas National Park in the Florida Keys and Biscayne National Park in Miami will not increase their rates for non-residents.
Let’s see how far the president’s power will go. In Miami, as of December 9, citizens are voting to elect a mayor and a District 3 commissioner. A high voter turnout is expected in this political context. Miami has not had a Democratic mayor in nearly 30 years, and voters are participating in a historic runoff election to choose their next mayor. The candidates are Eileen Higgins, who is supported by the Democrats, and Emilio González, who is backed by Trump. Could the president’s power be shaken if Higgins wins? One thing is certain: although the mayor’s office is technically nonpartisan, the 2025 race has largely been divided along party lines and has garnered nationwide attention.
