Trump Is Offering ‘VIP Experience’ For Army Parade to ‘Top Donors’: Report
AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson
President Donald Trump is offering a “VIP experience” to top donors when it comes to Saturday’s military parade, according to a new report.
Saturday’s Washington, D.C. parade is part of a “rolling celebration” of patriotic events. A bipartisan group founded in 2019 called America250 is behind some of the planning for these events, but recent moves have sparked concerns about the group remaining bipartisan, according to The Atlantic.
Michael Scherer, Ashley Parker, and Missy Ryan reported on Friday that, according to internal documents they’ve seen, “top donors” are being promised a “dedicated VIP experience” at Saturday’s military parade and other upcoming events, like a July 4 celebration where Trump reportedly plans on announcing a Great State American Fair for 2026, as well as a Patriot Games event to celebrate American sports.
The group America250 is currently run by Ariel Abergel, a former Fox News producer in his 20s who graduated college in 2021. The group previously helped plan Trump’s Tuesday speech in Fort Bragg in front of active duty troops. At the Bragg speech, a pro-Trump merchandise vendor reportedly set up a booth near the rally, violating Bragg’s rules.
“The Army does not endorse political merchandise or the views it represents,” Col. Mary Ricks, spokesperson for Fort Bragg, said. “The vendor’s presence is under review to determine how it was permitted and to prevent similar occurrences in the future.”
America250 announced new sponsors this week, which includes major companies like Amazon and Coinbase. The donations received go straight to the non-profit group and do not benefit any political action committees or the Republican Party.
“Their support is instrumental as we accelerate our programming and approach the one-year countdown to July 4, 2026. We are honored to partner with these iconic businesses to engage Americans across the country in celebrating 250 years of American leadership, innovation, and freedom,” Abergel said in a statement.
America250 is backed by a bipartisan congressional caucus, but some say the group has been “hijacked.”
Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ) claimed no one has been consulted on the group’s actions.
“America250’s mission is to ‘engage, educate, and unite,'” she told The Atlantic. “That mission has been hijacked by Donald Trump. It is unfortunate that what was meant to unite the country and honor its history has been twisted into yet another scheme for his own personal gain.”
Trump’s planned military parade is meant to celebrate the Army’s 250th anniversary. It also happens to fall on the president’s 79th birthday. Similar parades are being planned for other branches of the military.
