Freedom 250 is in the news as Trump-aligned events and fundraisers tied to the 250th anniversary spark backlash and claims of politicizing the celebration. Key players: White House-backed prayer rally, National Park Foundation fundraising, and Democratic pushback over the 250th plans.
A White House-backed nine-hour prayer event, "Rededicate 250," has been held on the National Mall to mark the US semiquincentennial. Senior administration officials and Republican leaders have appeared onstage or in video messages; the program has featured almost exclusively evangelical and conservative Christian speakers, with a single Jewish speaker. Critics have said the event is blurring church and state.