All Hail Emperor Donnie

The “Claw” and “Octagon” on the South White House lawn in preparation for a UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) event on Sunday 14 June. (Bloomberg/via Getty Images)

This is where we are in Trump’s America. While a war of choice continues with Iran, and the president for the 39th time — according to multiple media sources that track such things — promises that a “deal” to stop the war will happen in a day or two, the nation is subjected to a spectacle on the White House lawn. A cage fight. Ostensibly this is in celebration of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, but do not be fooled. This is a money making project staged in front of the People’s House that Trump thinks he owns. It is happening tomorrow because it is Trump’s 80th birthday Flag Day. What a coincidence!

First, let’s get our nomenclature correct. This is part of the Freedom 250 celebration — the one commemorating the anniversary, right? Wrong. Freedom 250 is the “official” Trump public-private organization putting together events surrounding the 250th anniversary. (Trump has trademarked the “Trump 250” logo because of course if there is money to be made, he wants in.) The actual, bipartisan, official celebration is America 250 which is a congressionally chartered, non-profit foundation created in 2016 to plan for the semiquincentennial. Unfortunately, under the current administration, about 103 million taxpayer dollars have been diverted to support Freedom 250 from the original 126 million allocated to support America 250. In other words, about 80 percent of the money intended for celebrations commemorating our founding was diverted to Trump’s pet projects honoring him. This includes a campaign-style rally on the national mall for his MAGA supporters on 24 June after the slate of singers scheduled to perform backed out after they realized that the event was for Freedom 250 rather than the bipartisan America 250.

Trump thinks that the celebration of our nation’s founding is really all about him. A great branding opportunity for his burgeoning autocracy. Corporate and individual donations have been collected for Freedom 250. To name a few, they include Amazon, Boeing, Palantir, Deloitte, Lockheed Martin, and United Airlines. Oh yeah. They also coincidentally have large contracts with the U.S. government. Additionally, for donations of a million or more, individuals can buy “VIP” access to Trump, federal buildings and exclusive events. For the UFC fight, special access tickets are going between 1 and 1.5 million dollars. Plastered around the White House lawn and the Lincoln Memorial (where the official weigh-ins were held today because I am sure that President Lincoln was a great UFC fan) are signs for Crypto.com (Trump is a partner), Bud Lite (America!) Polymarket, Monster Energy, a nicotine pouch brand, a blockchain company, a grill manufacturer, a personal-injury law firm and more. All to honor the Founding Fathers, or something. Of course the taxpayers are on the hook for supporting the massive logistics needed to pull off the event including security, law enforcement, first responders, traffic control and all the other requirements to support what has officially been designated as a Special Event Assessment Rating 1 (SEAR-1). This is the same level of security as the Super Bowl and is only exceeded by a Presidential Inauguration. This requires extensive intelligence coordination, security screening and multi-agency planning. All at taxpayer expense. But at least attendees will get a good look at the hole in the ground that used to be the East Wing.

But wait, there’s more! Trump owns stock in UFC’s parent company TKO which he purchased just before the event was announced. The “free” event for the American people has exclusive licensing from Paramount, which is broadcasting the entire thing. All real Americans can watch it on pay-per-view for the low, low price of $8.99 (the price to stream Paramount + for one month because this is not traditional pay-per-view) or for $27.49 to watch it on the big screen in an AMC theater. Public land for private profit — the new definition of public-private partnership?

I will not be watching but I am curious to hear how the entire extravaganza unfolds under the forecasted heat, humidity and thunder storms. Nothing says safety like a 600 ton steel monument reaching 92 feet into the sky with lightning in the air. And the bugs. That stage will be a beacon for all of the flies, mosquitos, no-see-ums and other denizens of the night from miles around. A veritable insect smorgasbord.

It is unclear to me whether Trump and his billionaire “bros” somehow think that they are in ancient Rome and in need of spectacles to keep the masses happy or if they prefer to liken themselves to some 20th century European leaders that used national exhibitions to underline their grip on power. Or is this the advent of a new business model where Trump and his billionaire friends profit off of taxpayer dollars? Note that according to the good government group Public Citizen, fourteen known contributors to Trump’s ballroom won over 50 billion dollars in government contracts over the last six months. Sixteen of the donors faced federal enforcement initiatives that have been dropped or suspended by this administration. This is taking corruption to an entirely new level.

There were some bright spots — in a grotesque kind of way — this week. The 14 million dollar rework of the Reflecting Pool between the Lincoln and Washington monuments reopened and immediately hosted an algae bloom of large proportions. Trump blamed it on Biden. Finally, this morning, Trump’s name came down off the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. It was done behind a tarp and in the cover of darkness because that is what most of Trump’s dealings entail.

With all of these shenanigans, I can only think of what all of that money could buy for kids who are hungry or for healthcare for those that need it.