Nick Offerman Slam Trump’s $267M National Parks Cut: ‘That’s Called S—ti ng The Bed’

July 17, 2025: Nick Offerman recently brought the spirit of Ron Swanson, his iconic character from Parks and Recreation, to The Daily Show, where he sharply criticized Donald Trump for slashing $267 million from the national parks budget.

“I have several undeniable loves in my life,” Offerman said to applause. “The oaky notes of a barrel-aged whiskey, an old-fashioned plumb bob dangling over a red cedar plank, my blushing bride’s hoo-ha, and of course, America’s national parks.” He went on to describe the dire situation at underfunded parks, where scientists are reportedly cleaning toilets due to staffing shortages. “This is a huge mistake. No scientist has the strength to clean the skid marks of a man who’s been eating beans and campfire hot dogs for the past three days! They’re weak.”

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Offerman condemned the administration’s plan to offset budget cuts by raising park entry fees to bring in $90 million. “You cut $267 million to get back $90 million. Now, I’m no mathematician, but I believe that’s called shitting the bed. But then again, I didn’t go to Wharton Business College,” he quipped.

Citing a report showing that national parks generated $55 billion for the U.S. economy and supported over 415,000 jobs in 2023, Offerman argued that parks are not only sacred but also economically vital. He emphasized their role as affordable, accessible vacation spots for American families.

“That is the true miracle of our national parks,” he said. “It is an affordable vacation that everyone can take inside our own borders, whether you’re traveling with your family or abandoning your constituents during a crisis.”

He concluded with a biting remark: “America without its national parks is like McDonald’s without the hamburgers. You can still go there, I guess, but at that point it’s kind of just a bathroom.”

Offerman also recently addressed fans who mistakenly believe Ron Swanson would support Trump. Speaking to IndieWire, he said, “Ron would think [Trump] is an absolute idiot. He would also despise him because he’s disrespectful to women and many others… Ron is a good person.”