Is It America’s Birthday or a Trump Show? Fundraising Controversy Over the 250th Anniversary Celebration

Donate 1 Million Dollars, Get Reception Invitation and Photo Opportunity

As U.S. President Donald Trump is planning an unprecedented celebration for the 250th anniversary of the nation’s founding, his close associates are offering special perks such as meetings with the president to major donors to a supporting organization called “Freedom 250,” the New York Times (NYT) reported on the 8th (local time).

According to fundraising request materials obtained by the NYT, Meredith O’Rourke, President Trump’s chief fundraising officer, is in charge of raising donations for this organization. Promotional materials for Freedom 250 state that donors who contribute at least 1 million dollars (about 1.4608 billion won) will be invited to a “Freedom 250 Private Thank-You Reception” hosted by President Trump and will have the opportunity to take photos with him. Those who donate 2.5 million dollars or more will also be given a chance to deliver a speech at the event to be held in Washington on July 4.

Donald Trump, President of the United States. Reuters Yonhap News

In December last year, President Trump announced the establishment of Freedom 250 on social media (SNS), saying that the organization would give the United States “the most spectacular birthday party it has ever seen.”

However, many of the events and monuments that Freedom 250 is planning have little clear connection to the key events of America’s founding. Instead, they focus on President Trump’s political agenda and personal branding. Examples include the construction of a 250-foot (about 76-meter) triumphal arch, an IndyCar race across Washington, D.C., a national prayer event, and a UFC match on the White House lawn timed to coincide with President Trump’s 80th birthday.

The NYT noted that this fundraising drive is reminiscent of the way President Trump has raised money for various projects and entities he has promoted, such as the White House banquet hall construction project he pursued after returning to the White House and pro-Trump super PACs (special political action committees). As with the White House banquet hall project, it has emerged as a channel through which individuals or corporations with interests tied to the Trump administration can curry favor with the president through donations, the report pointed out.

In general, because presidents are barred from seeking a third term, they tend to scale back political fundraising during their second term or focus on supporting their party. President Trump, however, has repeatedly hosted gatherings such as dinners for corporate executives and wealthy individuals, encouraging them to donate millions of dollars to causes he supports, and some donors have used these occasions to request special favors.

This is not the first time a national commemorative event has been politicized or turned into a venue for raising corporate funds. M.J. Rimza-Paulfovska, a professor at American University, explained that the 1976 bicentennial celebration under President Richard Nixon gained the nickname “buy-centennial” because too many corporations participated as sponsors. The term implied that the 200th anniversary celebration was effectively financed by corporate money. However, Professor Rimza-Paulfovska argued that President Trump is politicizing such a celebration even more overtly.

The aggressive push by Freedom 250 has also raised concerns within “America 250,” the official commission overseeing the United States’ 250th founding anniversary observances. America 250 is a bipartisan, independent nonprofit organization authorized by Congress.

Freedom 250 is a limited liability company under the National Park Foundation. In practice, however, it is subject to President Trump’s influence, as many individuals considered his close allies have been appointed as directors of the National Park Foundation.

Representative Bonnie Watson Coleman of the Democratic Party expressed concern that taxpayer funds allocated by Congress might be diverted from America 250 to Freedom 250. The NYT reported that in fact about 10 million dollars in public money has already been redirected from America 250 to Freedom 250.

Officials at the White House and Freedom 250 dismissed concerns that they are effectively selling access to the president to donors. Daniel Alvarez, a spokesperson for Freedom 250, said, “The president is deeply grateful to the donors, but unlike politicians of the past, he cannot be bought by anyone.” He also added that Freedom 250 is not in a competitive relationship with America 250.

White House spokesperson Davis Ingle stated that President Trump is “ensuring that the United States can enjoy the lavish birthday it deserves.”