Inside the Trump takeover of America’s 250th birthday party that created feuding planners and left a state fair dud

Inside the Trump takeover of America’s 250th birthday party that created feuding planners and left a state fair dud Trump’s Freedom250 set up in January 2025 and America250, the nonpartisan group created by Congress in 2016, are reportedly clashing over plans for the nation’s 250th birthday - Bookmark - CommentsGo to comments The launch of President Donald Trump’s Freedom250 group last year has led to a fierce rivalry with America250, the nonpartisan Congressional commission that has been planning the nation’s 250th birthday celebrations for a decade, according to a report. America250 is the organization created by Congress in 2016 to lead the commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The idea behind the group was to put on events across the country that everyone could enjoy. But since Trump launched Freedom250 in January 2025, the group behind the Great American State Fair, a violent UFC fight on the White House South Lawn and an exhibition curated by a right-wing educational organization PragerU, a “feud” has broken out between the two organizations, according to a report by TIME. America250, made up of lawmakers, private citizens and cabinet officials, as a result, “does not want to be affiliated with the kind of celebrations that Freedom 250 has set up,” according to TIME, citing internal documents and conversations with people working closely on the events. Freedom250’s 16-day Great American State Fair, which kicked off last week, failed to attract large crowds on the National Mall this weekend. Organizers promoted the fair as a patriotic showcase featuring all 50 states, family attractions, live entertainment, and exhibits celebrating the country's history and culture. Despite photographs of sparse crowds, Trump claimed the event was “packed with happy people” and touted his team for a “fantastic job” in a Truth Social post Monday. The groups are reportedly butting heads over similar programming, budget and vying over major marketing campaigns that have led to confusion among the public. Freedom250 reportedly sends a representative to America250’s meetings, but “there is no sense of collaboration between the two groups.” Rosie Rios, chair of America250, did not acknowledge reports of tensions between the two groups but said the organization “will continue to focus on the values-based programming approved by our bipartisan Commission” in a statement to The Independent. “We are supportive of the many other organizations planning events for the 250th at the federal, state and local level, so all Americans have ample opportunities to join in the celebration,” Rios said. Freedom250 did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Democratic Sen. Alex Padilla of California, who sits on the America250 committee, said that Trump has undermined the group’s plans by launching Freedom250. “President Trump couldn't help but try making America's 250th birthday all about himself,” Padilla said during a congressional hearing last week. Trump is at the center of Freedom250’s events, one of the reasons artists dropped out of a series of concerts on the National Mall. Bret Michaels, Martina McBride, The Commodores, Young MC and Morris Day were among the stars who pulled out after they were announced as performers. Some of the artists said they were unaware of the political nature of the event. The concerts were cancelled and remarketed as rallies focused on Trump. The first on June 24 saw Alex Wilkins, the country singer girlfriend of FBI director Kash Patel, perform before the president gave a speech as the event’s headline act. Freedom250 has touted an attempt to break the world record for the biggest fireworks show in a spectacle planned for July 4, and its celebration will also feature a performance from the Joint Armed Forces Orchestra and “national speakers,” its website says. America250, meanwhile, is putting on a Times Square Ball Drop to ring in July 4, and is promoting “Giving 4th,” the group’s movement to transform Independence Day into the largest single day of charitable giving in U.S. history. The groups are battling it out over media coverage. On July 4 Fox News is primed to cover Freedom250’s opening of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library in North Dakota, while CNN is slated to cover America250’s Times Square ball drop, according to TIME. Public funding and donations have also been a point of contention between the groups, according to the outlet, and America250 only received “a fraction of what was originally appropriated from Congress.” An American250 spokesperson clarified to The Independent that the group is “a distinct organization from Freedom 250.” It described the latter as “the funding arm for Task Force 250 being led by the executive branch with the White House, and coordinating the federal agencies’ planning.” “Freedom250 is the nonprofit supporting organization to Task Force 250 and special projects and initiatives under the purview of the President,” the spokesperson said. Join our commenting forum Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies Comments