President Donald Trump’s involvement in the planning of America’s 250th anniversary celebrations has sparked controversy and criticism from some groups. The left-leaning organization Next250 has reframed its commemoration in response to Trump’s takeover of the country’s birthday.
Competing Celebrations
A communal festival in Washington, DC, will feature an indigenous opening ceremony, a march, and voter registration booths, while Trump’s ‘Great American State Fair’ will include a Christianity-focused prayer event and a youth athletic contest.
Freedom 250, a nonprofit organization created by Trump, has been accused of being partisan and has drawn ire over its lack of transparency in funding. The organization has received $65 million in federal funding, while America250, a bipartisan organization, has only received $25 million.
Critics argue that Trump’s involvement in the celebrations has turned what was meant to be a unifying event into a partisan affair. ‘It’s a lost cause to expect anything unifying and exciting coming out of Washington,’ said John Dichtl, president and chief executive of the American Association for State and Local History.
Original reporting: KEYT (Ventura/Santa Barbara) — read the source article.
