AILSA CHANG, HOST:
The U.S. is throwing itself a big birthday party this year. The plans for America's 250th birthday are vast and wide-ranging and also a bit chaotic. Multiple competing organizations are throwing events. And what is being billed as a nonpolitical celebration around this anniversary seems like it's anything but. Here to help us make sense of it all is NPR's Chloe Veltman. Hi, Chloe.
CHLOE VELTMAN, BYLINE: Hello, Ailsa.
CHANG: Hello. OK, so just last week, we were hearing about artists pulling out of concerts scheduled for later this month in Washington, D.C. Where do things stand now on that front?
VELTMAN: Yeah, so last week, country singer Martina McBride, the funk and soul group the Commodores and hip-hop artist Young MC were among the musicians who pulled out of concerts that were part of the big 250th anniversary celebrations on the National Mall due to concerns over the event being politically partisan.
CHANG: Right.
VELTMAN: Then Trump - President Trump derided these artists on social media and, yesterday afternoon, posted on Truth Social that he'd told all the artists to stay home. He said, instead, there will be a rally to end all rallies in D.C. on June 24. He also wrote that Lee Greenwood is going to sing "God Bless The USA" to introduce him. I reached out, and the organizers haven't yet clarified whether all the singers are canceled. Vanilla Ice, for one, said last week he still planned to show up.
CHANG: "Ice Ice Baby." OK, but so much drama, right? Like, the 250th...
VELTMAN: Yeah.
CHANG: ...Anniversary celebrations were originally conceived as this, like, as you said, nonpartisan - and it's supposed to be nonpolitical - celebration of America's patriotism and togetherness. What happened to that big, bold idea?
VELTMAN: Oh, well...
CHANG: (Laughter).
VELTMAN: Planning has become highly politicized because - surprise, surprise, Ailsa - there are two separate groups running the show at the national level.
CHANG: Of course.
VELTMAN: Now, the groups are supposed to be working together. One is Freedom 250, which was hosting those concerts as part of a huge event called the Great American State Fair on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. And starting in late June, it has this - the event has these specific days devoted to a variety of themes like American entrepreneurism and military might. Freedom 250 is also hosting a fan zone during the World Cup and other events. This group came out of a January 2025 executive order from President Trump calling for a task force to plan celebrations for the 250th anniversary.
CHANG: OK, so that's Freedom 250, which is not the same as America 250, right? That's the other name I've been hearing.
VELTMAN: Right. America 250...
CHANG: Oh, my gosh.
VELTMAN: ...Was established by Congress a decade ago.
CHANG: Oh.
VELTMAN: And the people running that group come from both sides of the political aisle. It's the force behind a major concert happening in Los Angeles, a nationwide student writing and art competition and other plans across the country.
CHANG: OK, and you mentioned these groups are supposed to be working together. How is that going so far?
VELTMAN: There has been some friction, frankly. Money is, of course, one issue. It's the - in a congressional hearing in February about the 250th, Democratic lawmakers accused Freedom 250 of hijacking public funds earmarked for America 250 and mixing these dollars with private donations, including from abroad, for use on its own projects. Freedom 250 spokesperson Danielle Alvarez responded to the accusations with a one-line statement saying, Freedom 250 is not accepting foreign donations. But there's also been infighting, Ailsa.
CHANG: Yeah.
VELTMAN: Last September, the executive director of America 250, Ari Abergel - who was personally recommended for the job by President Trump - was fired by the Commission for misusing an official social media account and pushing multiple commissioners to resign, among other issues. He said those allegations were lies. Still, when I asked, these two groups say things are going smoothly, and they're working in tandem.
CHANG: Ah, the saga continues. That is NPR's...
VELTMAN: Yeah.
CHANG: ...Chloe Veltman. Thank you so much, Chloe.
VELTMAN: You're welcome, Ailsa. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.
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