Trump mangles the word 'Yosemite' at signing of Great American Outdoors Act

'When they gaze upon Yo-semites – Yo-seminites – towering sequoias, their love of country grows stronger'

During a bill signing ceremony for the bipartisan-led Great America Outdoors Act, Donald Trump mispronounced Yosemite National Park as "yo-semite" as he delivered remarks praising national landmarks.

The measure calls for the "mandatory funding of the Land and Water Conservation Fund and addresses the maintenance backlog facing America's national parks and public lands," according to the White House.

"We want every American child to have access to have access to pristine outdoor spaces," he said in prepared remarks. "When young Americans experience the breathtaking beauty of the Grand Canyon. when their eyes widen in amazement as Old Faithful bursts into the sky, when they gaze upon Yo-semites – Yo-seminites – towering sequoias, their love of country grows stronger, and they know that every American has a duty to preserve this wondrous inheritance."

The legislation is one of the most significant pieces of environmental and conservation laws passed by this Congress in a rare bipartisan effort, allocating billions of dollars for repairs and maintenance despite a largely polarised body on matters related to the climate crisis.

Following a 73-25 vote in the Republican-controlled Senate in June and overwhelming support in the House of Representatives last month, the measure was signed into law at the White House on Tuesday.

It establishes a restoration fund to provide up to $9 billion over the next five years, with most of that money set aside for more than 400 national parks, which have seen flat budgets over the last few decades, creating a backlog for badly needed repairs to roads and other facilities.

The law also grants $900 million a year to the Land and Water Conservation Fund through offshore oil and gas royalties from projects in federally owned waters.

It marks the most funding injected into national parks since the 1950s.