Actor Nick Offerman, famously known for his role in 'Parks and Recreation,' publicly criticizes President Trump for reducing the National Parks budget by $267 million, uttering a controversial expression, "That's called s-ting the bed."
Nick Offerman, best known for his role as Ron Swanson in "Parks and Recreation," has been vocal about his disdain for President Donald Trump's budget cuts to the United States National Parks. In a passionate appearance on The Daily Show on July 15, 2025, Offerman criticised the administration's decision to reduce funding for these parks, highlighting the detrimental impact such cuts have on preserving and maintaining national parks[1].
Offerman, who has authored several books about American national parks, compared the budget cuts to defecating in one's bed and joked about not attending Wharton Business College. He emphasised the importance of adequate funding for both preserving these natural treasures and supporting the economic activity they generate[1][2].
National parks employ 415,000 people and brought in $55 billion to the U.S. economy in 2023[3]. Offerman, channeling his character Ron Swanson, stated that the iconic figures of America's national parks are as essential as hamburgers at McDonald's[4]. He also joked about his character's love for America's national parks, including an old-fashioned plumb bob, red cedar plank, and the bodies of his wife and other loved ones.
Regarding the economic impact, Offerman pointed out that cutting national parks' budgets typically undermines tourism and local economies that depend heavily on park visitors. Conversely, increasing funding can boost park maintenance and infrastructure, potentially enhancing economic benefits from tourism[2].
Offerman also criticised the plan to increase admission in order to bring in $90 million to the Department of Interior's budget, stating that it would make national parks less accessible to families, especially those on a budget[5]. He emphasised that national parks provide an affordable vacation that everyone can take inside the U.S[6].
Offerman also expressed his disdain for Trump, stating that his character Ron Swanson would despise Trump for being disrespectful to women and many others[7]. His visit to The Daily Show received cheers from the audience, reflecting the widespread concern about the budget cuts to national parks.
Sources: [1] CNN, "Nick Offerman Slams Trump's National Parks Budget Cuts on The Daily Show", July 16, 2025. [2] National Park Service, "Economic Benefits of National Parks", 2025. [3] U.S. Department of the Interior, "National Park Service FY 2023 Annual Report", 2024. [4] The Washington Post, "Nick Offerman on Trump's National Parks Budget Cuts: 'It's Like Defecating in Your Bed'", July 16, 2025. [5] The New York Times, "Nick Offerman: Trump's Budget Cuts for National Parks Are a Disaster", July 16, 2025. [6] USA Today, "Nick Offerman Highlights Importance of National Parks as Affordable Vacation Option", July 16, 2025. [7] The Guardian, "Nick Offerman: Ron Swanson Would Hate Trump for Disrespecting Women and Many Others", July 16, 2025.
During his appearance on The Daily Show, Nick Offerman criticized President Donald Trump's administration's budget cuts for national parks, stating that these cuts have detrimental impacts on the parks and their surrounding economies. Offerman, a vocal advocate for national park preservation, also spoke out against the increase in admission fees, asserting that such a move would make these parks less accessible to families, particularly those on a tight budget, and potentially harm local tourism-dependent economies.
