Inside America’s Ugly Birthday Battle

The 250th Celebration Planning is a Hot Mess! “This is straight out of It’s a Wonderful Life, when Henry Potter steals George Bailey’s money...” ―America250 Comr. “This administration will not light taxpayer money on fire. Full stop.” ―DOI press office. www.theatlantic.com/politics/202... #PINKS

But last summer, with little fanfare, President Trump took control of the event and renamed it. While campaigning, he had promised to work with all 50 state governors to put on his own “Great American State Fair” at the Iowa State Fairgrounds.

As our nation marks 250 years, let's rededicate ourselves to what it actually means to be American: freedom, self-government, opportunity, and the belief that each generation can move our country closer to its founding promise of a more perfect union. www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...

www.theatlantic.com/politics/202... The hypocrisy is beyond comprehension he's burning taxpayer money in a bonfire on his fucking birthday party and just about everything else you can think of but he doesn't want fund July 4 fireworks?? 👿👇🏼

The Atlantic (gift link) Inside America’s Ugly Birthday Battle "[T]aking an increasing share of fed'l funding, scooping up donations, & assuming responsibility for long-planned events while sometimes placing Trump at the center of the celebrations” A massive scam www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...

www.theatlantic.com/politics/202... This is one of the most disgusting things I have ever read! For 250 years we had our United States of America, then came trump. If trump can't take it over, bend it 100% to his will, strip all the money and make it about nothing but trump, he'll destroy it. .

That asshole ruins everything he touches. www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...

Simply despicable: Inside America’s Ugly Birthday Battle The Trump administration broke an agreement to fund the bipartisan semiquincentennial celebrations, saying they will not “light taxpayer money on fire.” www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...

This year I guess we were supposed to get a "Smithsonian-led blockbuster festival stretching from the Washington Monument to the U.S. Capitol that would be open to all and free of partisanship." But no. www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...

PSYCHONAUT SCOOP: After Trump kicked Smithsonian off National Mall for his Great American State Fair, the museum now plans to send staff to Burning Man this summer to collect stories about "culture, identity and democracy." No spectators. www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...

Years ago “America’s 250th birthday planners envisioned a Smithsonian-led blockbuster festival stretching from the Washington Monument to the U.S. Capitol that would be open to all and free of partisanship.” www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...

www.theatlantic.com/politics/202... What a mess

"[I]t seems pretty clear this con man is at it again and has co-opted America’s birthday to rake in foreign donations, siphon taxpayer dollars ... and use it all to celebrate himself instead of the country.” (Rep. Jared Huffman, N.C.) www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...

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Trump openly declares that he literally hates 40% of Americans (% of registered Democrats). Would you go to the birthday party of a host who despises you? I’m not a masochist, are you? www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...

🎁Inside America’s Ugly Birthday Battle The Trump administration broke an agreement to fund the bipartisan semiquincentennial celebrations, saying it will not “light taxpayer money on fire.” By Michael Scherer June 11, 2026 www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...

Inside America’s Ugly Birthday Battle The Trump regime broke an agreement to fund the bipartisan semiquincentennial celebrations, saying it will not “light taxpayer money on fire.” 🤥🤥🤥🤥🤥 SHUT IT DOWN! www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...

2) How long, O Lord www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...

お誕生日のために庭にプロレス場を建てたの。プロレスは低俗だというステレオタイプに加担するつもりはないけど、自分のためだけにサーカスをやって、パンも配らない独裁者なんて、独裁者としても失格よね。 独立記念日はもともと超党派のアメリカ250という団体が10年前から準備してたんだけど、アレが自分の気にいるようにフリーダム250という対抗組織を作ったらしい。せっかくの250周年、完全に破壊されたわ。その辺の経緯はこの記事が詳しい。 www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...

How America's 250-yr celebration degenerated into a Trumpfest, selling access to the president for cash. www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...

What people need to understand about sociopaths, if they have any say in how money is spent, in their minds, it's ALL theirs. www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...

Gift link. www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...

American250 versus Freedom 250. What a mess. Rep. Huffman (D-Calif): Trump “has co-opted America’s birthday to rake in foreign donations, siphon taxpayer dollars … into this shadowy LLC, and use it all to celebrate himself instead of the country.” www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...

“...it seems pretty clear this con man is at it again and has co-opted America’s birthday to rake in foreign donations, siphon taxpayer dollars from the legitimate America 250 into this shadowy LLC, and use it all to celebrate himself instead of the country.” www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...

NEWS: Inside America's Birthday battle--As Trump takes taxpayer money for his own events, Interior has refused to give the bipartisan America250 $25 million it promised: “This administration will not light taxpayer money on fire. Full stop.” www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...

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Of course he is ruining this, too. He couldn't let the Smithsonian or another group run this. He had to create a competing group and use it to push his own agenda.

“They described frayed trust and growing conflict that has become so acrimonious that the Department of Interior is refusing to honor a December agreement with America250, a bipartisan group authorized by Congress in 2016 to plan the nation’s festivities.” www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...

EXCLUSIVE: Documents and interviews reveal growing disarray about celebrations of America’s 250th birthday, Michael Scherer reports. He examines the fractures between Trump’s advisers and bipartisan organizers over money, sponsorships, control, and tone. www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...

Inside America’s Ugly Birthday Battle (@michaelscherer.bsky.social) www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...

Trump's breach of $50 million transfer agreement signals a deliberate dismantling of nonpartisan governance over America's 250th celebration. Commitment is not honored so officials prioritize executive control over legacy institutions, changing a national milestone into a tool for partisan crap.

The behind-the-scenes battle between the organizers of America's 250th birthday celebration www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...

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It’s not a battle! It says right there in the article that Trump is being a money-grubbing asshole! And his people are whining because President Baby doesn’t get to be in charge of everything! #framewashing with headlines www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...

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The Trump administration broke an agreement to fund the bipartisan semiquincentennial celebrations, saying it will not “light taxpayer money on fire.”

Inside America’s Ugly Birthday Battle The Trump administration broke an agreement to fund the bipartisan semiquincentennial celebrations, saying it will not “light taxpayer money on fire.” www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...

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»The Trump administration broke an agreement to fund the bipartisan semiquincentennial celebrations, saying it will not “light taxpayer money on fire.”« 🎁 link (no paywall)

For years, planners have been designing a Smithsonian-led, bipartison celebration of America's 250th anniversary. Then Trump took it over and destroyed it. www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...

Inside America’s Ugly Birthday Battle The Trump administration broke an agreement to fund the bipartisan semiquincentennial celebrations, saying it will not “light taxpayer money on fire.” By Michael Scherer www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...

There were thoughtful plans-- history, patriotism, celebration. Something for all Americans. THEN, came the narcissist who must have everything for himself and likely make money off it, too. www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...

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EXCLUSIVE: Documents and interviews reveal growing disarray about celebrations of America’s 250th birthday, Michael Scherer reports. He examines the fractures between Trump’s advisers and bipartisan organizers over money, sponsorships, control, and tone. www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...

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📰 The Atlantic Inside America’s Ugly Birthday Battle ⟶ The Atlantic | headline in context

🎁Gift Article Inside America’s Ugly Birthday Battle The Trump administration broke an agreement to fund the bipartisan semiquincentennial celebrations, saying it will not “light taxpayer money on fire.” By Michael Scherer June 11, 2026, 8:30 AM ET www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...

www.theatlantic.com/politics/202... --- And yet, THAT is exactly what he is doing- a theft, a con, a grift at taxpayer's expense.

More details of the "Freedom 250" scam: www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...

🎁🔗: Inside America’s Ugly Birthday Battle www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...

the 'ugliness' is the ongoing corruption & desecration of our nations capital, our rights, government, economy - democracy all while Republicans enable, support & protect the authoritarian Trump regime😈☠️ Never forget www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...

"America's Birthday battle is getting worse. As Trump🚨takes more taxpayer money for his own events, Interior has refused to give the bipartisan America250 $25 million it promised: “This administration will not light taxp... #democracy #usa #gop #fascists #fascism 👉 Vote 'em Out!

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America's 250th birthday party on the rocks. www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...

www.theatlantic.com/politics/202.... “We thought we’d taken care of that in last year’s budget—$150 million for America250, promised $50 million; they only received $25 so far,” said Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, a member of the America250 commission. Hmm. 🤔 The Trumpian money-is-funny problem.

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Inside America's Ugly Birthday Battle (Michael Scherer/The Atlantic) Main Link | memeorandum Permalink

"Spending taxpayer money on frivolous, poorly attended events and D.C. consultants who are trying to get rich off America’s 250th is the exact opposite of what was intended,” Department of Interior. www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...

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trump ruins everything… Read for free/gift article www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...