Proposed ‘Trump Wildlife Preserve’ Draws Strong Reactions

A wildlife preserve in Ohio could be the latest government-run facility to bear the president’s name, but not in the way one might expect.

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources recently unveiled a proposed rule to rename the “Charles O. Trump Wildlife Preserve” to the “Trump Wildlife Preserve.” The 128-acre area located in Pickaway County is named after a local farmer who donated land to the state in 1996. While the rule would not technically change Charles O. Trump from being the preserve’s namesake, some are suggesting that the name change amounts to renaming it after President Donald Trump.

Rule 1501: 31-15-04 calls for several public lands to be referred to by other names or be consolidated. The name change in question reads, “Charles O. Trump will also be referred to as the Trump Wildlife Preserve.”

“The Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife is adding the option to call the property Trump Wildlife Preserve, but we will continue to refer to it as the Charles O. Trump Wildlife Area,” Karina Cheung, the department’s press secretary, told The Daily Signal when asked about the proposed change.

Those who wish to do so can make comments about the rule until April 1, with a public hearing scheduled for April 8, according to Signal Ohio. If accepted, the change would take effect on June 30.

Ohioans have made their thoughts known in ways beyond public comment as well. The Columbus Dispatch highlighted comments from Reddit users to note that the proposal “is coming under fire on social media.”

An Ohio subreddit from a user who claims to be “an active outdoorsman around Ohio in many of the different outdoor organizations” resulted in many comments last week that lashed out against President Donald Trump and the idea of a wildlife preserve being connected to him.

It’s a connection the White House doesn’t mind. In fact, a spokeswoman welcomed it.

“President Trump has been a fearless advocate for delivering clean air and water for families across the country,” White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers told The Daily Signal.” This sounds like a great name for the wildlife preserve given President Trump’s commitment to conserving our beautiful American national parks and wildlife populations!”

Many Reddit users also brought up complaints about the president and Ohio that were unrelated to wildlife preserves and the outdoors. Some spoke about defacing the area, including with graffiti or by “tear[ing] down the sign.”

One user referenced other landmarks and buildings that have come to include the Trump name, disregarding the fact president had nothing to do with the name change in Ohio, nor is he the inspiration. “Every time I hear he’s slapped his name on something it puts a smile on my face. I imagine how cathartic it will be to rip them all down,” Jet_1955 wrote.

At least one user seemed to welcome the proposed change, “if it means republicans [sic] are less inclined to destroy” wildlife preserves.

The original poster, ValuableCapitain6431, also spoke about “filing a FOIA request, so we can get them booted from the board,” referring to Ohio Department of Natural Resources board members who may have proposed the rule. But again, the department will still continue to refer to the preserve by its current, longer name.

In fact, another user pointed to Pickaway County Recorder public records from Dec. 26, 1996, demonstrating that it was Charles Trump himself who asked in his will that the wildlife preserve be known as “The Trump Wildlife Preserve.”

The other Trump won Ohio in 2016, 2020, and 2024, which he pointed out during his visit to Cincinnati earlier this month.