Fox News Vets Are Taking Over America's 250th Birthday Party

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Just four months ago, the Fox News host Steve Doocy gave a social-media send-off to his young producer Ariel Abergel, who had announced that he was leaving the network. Alongside a montage of the two traveling through Iowa, Doocy reminisced about their three years together and affectionately razzed Abergel as 'Ari the driver.'
Now Abergel, who finished college in 2021 and is in his mid-20s, finds himself in a much—much—bigger producing job: He's been tasked by President Donald Trump with overseeing the nation's 250th birthday celebration as executive director of America250. The congressionally authorized festivities, which kick off tomorrow with a Washington parade to honor the Army, are backed by more than $100 million in expected congressional appropriations and are supposed to be a nonpolitical, nonpartisan affair. But Abergel's new role has prompted concerns even from some Trump loyalists, as well as a backlash among participants who worry that his installation portends a bid by Trump to channel the patriotism surrounding the nation's semiquincentennial into a celebration of himself.
Abergel's operation helped fundraise for Trump's speech on Tuesday at Fort Bragg, where the president denounced his political rivals before a backdrop of active-duty troops. The group is also planning a 250th Kickoff Celebration on July 4, at which Trump plans to announce the fulfillment of two campaign promises: plans for a Great America State Fair in 2026, and a new, federally backed Patriot Games to celebrate American sports. At both events, as well as tomorrow's parade, which falls on Trump's 79th birthday, top donors have been promised a 'dedicated VIP experience,' according to documents we obtained.
Trump and his advisers are eager to use the nation's 250th anniversary to highlight the various ways that, in their view, his administration is making America great again. The president considers the semiquincentennial part of a rolling celebration that he will oversee, a White House official told us. In Trump's expansive view, the events also include the 2026 FIFA World Cup—which the United States is hosting, along with Canada and Mexico—and the 2028 Summer Olympics, in Los Angeles.
[Listen: The real problem with Trump's parade]
Much like tomorrow's parade for the Army, celebrations for the Marines and Navy are being planned for this fall, when they, too, turn 250. A New Year's Eve–style ball drop in Times Square is also being discussed for July 4, 2026—celebrating the Declaration of Independence turning 250, people familiar with the planning told us.
A list of new donors to the effort was announced this week and is filled with corporations whose leaders have sought to ingratiate themselves with the president—Ultimate Fighting Championship, Coinbase, Amazon, and Oracle, to name a few. Their tax-deductible donations do not go to Trump's political committee, or the Republican Party, but to America250 Inc., a nonprofit group that was established in 2019 by a bipartisan, congressionally authorized commission that Abergel now runs.
On paper, the nonprofit represents the whole country, without any political agenda beyond patriotic celebration. It is backed by an America250 congressional caucus, with a bipartisan group of more than 280 members from the House and Senate. But in practice, the group has been functioning in recent weeks as an arm of Trump's White House operation. Administration officials say that is appropriate because the Biden administration put its stamp on the early planning for the 250th celebration, and the White House was long expected to select the organization's executive director.
Others, however, disagree. Representative Bonnie Watson Coleman, a Democrat from New Jersey, said in a statement emailed to us that Trump's leadership has been making decisions without informing or seeking the consent of the bipartisan commission that oversees America250. Watson Coleman, a member of the commission, said that she intended to 'fight' to return the group to its nonpartisan purpose, and that tomorrow's parade was 'being run under the banner of America250 without advance notice to, or consent from, the members of the Commission.'
'America250's mission is to 'engage, educate, and unite,'' Watson Coleman said in the statement. '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.'
Abergel, who interned for Trump during his first term and worked briefly in first lady Melania Trump's office, has hired another recent college graduate, Aidan Golub, as his chief of staff, according to Golub's LinkedIn account. He has brought over others from Fox News to help the organization, and added top campaign advisers to Trump, including the fundraiser Meredith O'Rourke, events planner Justin Caporale, and senior adviser Chris LaCivita. The former Fox News host Monica Crowley, who now serves as chief of protocol for the United States, has been appointed the 'principal media representative' of America250. Several vendors who had been working on preparations for next year, meanwhile, have been fired.
An administration official familiar with the operation told us that Abergel helped plan large public events for Fox News when he worked there and is well qualified for the job. 'He is taking something and fixing it,' this person said, after requesting anonymity to discuss internal matters at America250. 'He is bringing in the best of the best.'
'Ari and the team have brought a fresh perspective to our programming that helps us connect with Americans across the country,' Rosie Rios, the chair of America250, who served as U.S. treasurer under President Barack Obama, told us in a statement. 'As we approach America250, it's critical that our efforts remain bi-partisan and reach our goal of engaging 350 million Americans.'
Not all people familiar with the operation agree that Abergel is the best pick for the job. 'He's not necessarily doing anything bad, and he's a super-nice guy and wants to do a good job,' another person familiar with the arrangement told us. 'But the idea he'd be put in charge of this is kind of insane.'
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The full scope of the changes at the group has not been made clear. A list of America250 'ambassadors'—including the musicians Gloria Estefan and Lance Bass, and former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown—has been pulled off its website for reasons that have not been explained, while photos of Trump have been added in recent weeks. Meta was included on the website as an America250 donor earlier this spring and then removed; a Meta spokesperson said the company is not a donor. Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama remain honorary co-chairs of America250 with former President George W. Bush and his wife, Laura. Obama's spokesperson declined to comment on changes at the group.
America250 was involved in fundraising for Trump's campaign-style rally Tuesday at Fort Bragg. Before the event, military authorities at the base vetted the troops who were going to sit behind Trump, ensuring that they had passed background checks, had presentable uniforms, and were in good physical shape, according to a military spokesperson. Some jeered and booed as Trump attacked the 'fake news' media, derided former President Joe Biden and California Governor Gavin Newsom, called Los Angeles a 'trash heap,' and described the protesters around the country who object to his immigration policies as a 'foreign invasion.'
A vendor of pro-Trump merchandise was given a space near the rally site in what amounted to a violation of base rules. 'The Army does not endorse political merchandise or the views it represents,' Colonel Mary Ricks, a spokesperson for the XVIII Airborne Corps and Fort Bragg, said in a statement. 'The vendor's presence is under review to determine how it was permitted and to prevent similar occurrences in the future.'
Trump named Justin Caporale, who produced rallies for Trump's campaign, to be 'the executive producer for major events and public appearances' for 'my outside operation' in a December 31 social-media post. Caporale's firm was involved in staging the Fort Bragg event, and will produce tomorrow's parade, people involved told us. Although the XVIII Airborne Corps facilitated the entry of local dignitaries and other VIP guests of the military for Tuesday's event, that was unrelated to any VIP donors invited by the White House as part of the 'VIP experience' for donors to America250, an individual familiar with the matter told us.
They referred further questions to Caporale's firm, Event Strategies Inc., which did not respond to a request for comment.
'There will be catcalls and detractors that will try to make this political,' LaCivita told us. 'But the mission is to activate and include 350 million Americans in celebration of America's 250th birthday.'
Article originally published at The Atlantic