Trump Celebrates Chiricahua as Nation’s 64th National Park
Trump credits the Chiricahua National Park Act, signed five days earlier, as giving Americans their 64th national park in southeastern Arizona.
WASHINGTON D.C. — Donald J. Trump celebrated the redesignation of Chiricahua National Monument as the nation’s 64th national park, calling it the “newest flagship national park in the country.”
Trump signed the Chiricahua National Park Act into law on October 20, according to doi.gov. The 12,000-acre site in southeastern Arizona now carries national park status.
“Chiricahua’s towering rock spires, rich Apache heritage and remarkable biodiversity make it one of America’s most extraordinary landscapes,” Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum said, according to doi.gov. “This new designation will shine a national spotlight on one of Arizona’s hidden gems, creating opportunities to welcome more visitors, strengthen local economies and share this incredible landscape with more Americans.”
The redesignation elevates Chiricahua from monument to national park but does not change its boundaries or substantially alter how the site is managed, according to doi.gov. The park protects towering rhyolite rock spires and balanced rocks formed by a volcanic eruption roughly 27 million years ago.
Here is the full post on truthsocial: “I am proud to announce the NEWEST FLAGSHIP NATIONAL PARK in the Country, CHIRICAHUA NATIONAL PARK in ARIZONA! In my First Term, I signed the GREAT American Outdoors Act, one of the LARGEST Investments in National Parks in HISTORY, and designated a new National Park in the Great State of West Virginia, meaning, I’ve now given ALL Americans their 63rd and 64th National Park. No other President was able to get this done for America, and Arizona, a State I love and won BIG! Congratulations to GREAT Republican Congressman and America First Patriot Juan Ciscomani for his MAJOR WIN passing this Bill through Congress. Congratulations to all of our other Great Congressmen in the State, including Andy Biggs, David Schweikert, Eli Crane, Abe Hamadeh, and Paul Gosar. We are MAKING OUR PARKS, AND ARIZONA, GREAT AGAIN! Trump” on October 25, 2026 at 7:58 PM ET.
This is Trump’s 12th message released today, and the last post was 20 minutes ago, and it is not part of a thread. On average, Trump produces 18 posts per day since his inauguration on January 20, 2025. The move fits a broader pattern in Trump’s recent messaging, with 46 of his 602 posts over the last 30 days classified as Domestic Policy posts.
President Donald J. Trump celebrated the redesignation of Chiricahua National Monument as the nation's 64th national park at WASHINGTON D.C.
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Trump credited Republican Rep. Juan Ciscomani of Arizona for shepherding the bill through Congress. He also named Reps. Andy Biggs, David Schweikert, Eli Crane, Abe Hamadeh and Paul Gosar as contributors to the effort. The bill preserves tribal access for traditional ceremonies and allows temporary public closures within the park to protect cultural uses, according to theguardian.
Chiricahua sits within the historical territory of the Chiricahua Apache tribes, according to theguardian. The area preserves thousands of years of human history, including its importance as the homeland of the Chiricahua Apache and its legacy of early homesteading families at Faraway Ranch, according to doi.gov. Desert, grassland and forest ecosystems converge in the Chiricahua Mountains, supporting remarkable biodiversity.
Southeastern Arizona communities near the town of Willcox stand to benefit from the elevated designation. The park draws roughly 60,000 visitors annually, according to theguardian. National parks carry stronger name recognition than national monuments, making them more likely to attract travelers planning vacations.
The redesignation does not automatically bring additional federal funding, according to afar. Trump said in his post that he also designated a national park in West Virginia during his first term, claiming to have given Americans their 63rd and 64th parks. No date has been announced for any further national park designations.
Calvin Coolidge first protected the site as a national monument in 1924 under the Antiquities Act, and Franklin D. Roosevelt expanded it in 1938, according to theguardian. For centuries before federal protection, the Chiricahua Apache inhabited the area. They clashed with settlers until surrendering to U.S. troops in 1886 and being forcibly removed to the San Carlos Apache reservation, according to theguardian.
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President Trump is the author of The Art of the Deal, Think Like a Billionaire, and Think Big. Analyst and Trump supporter Rod Martin points to The Art of the Deal, Trump's 1987 book, as an explanation of his deal-making philosophy: making big announcements, pivoting often in public statements and, Martin says, ultimately getting what he wanted all along. Critics contend that Trump's books were published decades ago or were aimed at making money, not shedding light. "Generally," Martin said, "critics don't read The Art of the Deal. If they did, they would understand."