SOURCE :- THE AGE NEWS
Washington: Donald Trump’s trouble-plagued celebrations for America’s 250th anniversary took another hit after part of the stage collapsed during rehearsals, as Democrats accused the president of hijacking the event and creating a “blueprint for corruption”.
Video posted on social media by TikTok journalist Aaron Parnas showed a section of the main stage roof falling down as dancers rehearsed to a song. The roof panel landed heavily behind the dancers, and no one appeared to be hurt.
The stage is located in Washington’s National Mall, and will host Saturday’s main events, including Trump’s speech. It is adjacent to the Great American State Fair, which is also being held in the mall.
Freedom250, a Trump-aligned organisation created by the administration to host events for the US’ 250th anniversary, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The festivities have been marred by controversy, mishap and poor attendance. Programming at the State Fair is heavy on panels and presentations by Trump administration officials, but several spoke to crowds of fewer than 25 people.
On Tuesday, just a handful gathered to hear Lee Zeldin, the Trump-appointed administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, while only a couple of dozen – including staff – were present for panels on Thursday featuring Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins and the US trade ambassador, Jamieson Greer.
While footage showed healthier crowds on Thursday morning, there was hardly anyone present at the fair by 4pm when this masthead visited. Temperatures had by then hit 38 degrees in Washington, with a “feels like” of 41.
A rodeo planned for the State Fair on Thursday (Washington time) was postponed due to the heat, Freedom250 announced, although a concert was to proceed.
Meteorologists and local Washington officials have raised the alarm about festivities planned for Independence Day on Saturday, with similar conditions forecast. Programming for the main event begins at 5pm, with Trump due to speak at 9.45pm and a 45-minute fireworks display starting at 10.30pm or later.
Meanwhile, Democrats released a 55-page report accusing Trump of taking over America’s 250th anniversary celebrations for his own gain. It is based on the president’s creation of Freedom250, a MAGA-aligned organisation designed to supersede America250, the official vehicle created by the US Congress.
The report alleges the administration initially promised America250 would receive $US100 million ($145 million) in financing, but this was later reduced to $US50 million – with not all of that sum ultimately paid.
It also claims Freedom250 captured many of America250’s intended corporate donors, who “came under pressure to redirect their giving to Freedom250”. Furthermore, it alleges some donors were misled into donating to Freedom250, when they thought they were giving to the congressionally mandated body.
“If true, such actions could constitute violations of several laws,” the Democrats’ report says, including “potential wire fraud and charitable solicitation fraud”.
Other allegations raised in the report – which this masthead has not verified – include Freedom250 soliciting foreign money, selling access to Trump, enabling him to enrich himself and steering federal contracts to the president’s friends.
“Freedom250 constitutes a replicable blueprint for corruption,” the report concluded. It was based on direct interviews with unnamed sources and existing public domain reporting.
The White House referred questions to Freedom250, which did not immediately respond to a request for comment. But in an earlier statement to MS-NOW, Freedom250’s Danielle Alvarez dismissed the allegations.
“This so-called ‘report’ is nothing more than a partisan smear from politicians who would rather manufacture division than celebrate America’s 250th birthday alongside the rest of the country,” Alvarez told the network.
“The claims are categorically false, and it’s disheartening that some in Washington are more interested in scoring political points than honouring our nation’s milestone.”
Alvarez also said America250 had failed, and accused it of seeking to apologise for America rather than celebrating it. “Freedom 250 was created because the American people deserved better,” she said.
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Michael Koziol is the North America correspondent for The Age and Sydney Morning Herald. He is a former Sydney editor, Sun-Herald deputy editor and a federal political reporter in Canberra.Connect via X or email.
