Trump's Frustration Over Poor Turnout at MAGA Rally and July 4 Event Challenges The president was reportedly "livid" over the low turnout at his MAGA rally-style event last week, which NBC News described as drawing "nowhere near" the 45,000-strong crowd he had boasted about on Truth Social. The event, intended to mark the launch of his Freedom 250 project, turned into a self-promotional spectacle for Trump rather than a celebration of America’s 250th birthday. The gathering faced criticism after a group of artists scheduled to perform withdrew, having been misled into believing the event was organized by the bipartisan America 250 group, which has been sidelined by Trump’s MAGA-aligned Freedom 250 organization. With just days left until the president is set to headline a similarly MAGA-coded July 4 celebration on the National Mall, his aides are growing increasingly concerned about the potential for another disappointing turnout. The event, billed as a once-in-a-lifetime celebration for the country’s semiquincentennial, faces multiple logistical hurdles. Weather forecasters predict triple-digit temperatures in Washington, D.C., on July 4, turning the open-air National Mall into a sweltering environment with limited shade. Attendees will be exposed to extreme heat, with thermometers expected to top 100 degrees, making the open-air setting uncomfortable and potentially dangerous. The political nature of the event, driven by Trump’s involvement, is also expected to deter many Washington residents who might otherwise attend. The Secret Service’s strict security measures further complicate the experience, requiring attendees to arrive hours before the event begins and remain in place with minimal access to water or shade.#trump #secret_service #america_250 #freedom_250 #maga
Trump reads Old Testament passage in marathon Bible event President Donald Trump and many of his leading Christian supporters and top Republicans are taking part this week in a marathon reading of the Bible in an America 250-themed event billed as encouraging a “return to the spiritual foundation that has shaped our country.” The Bible is “indelibly woven into our national identity and way of life,” Trump said in a statement commemorating the event. The statement cited historical figures such as the Puritan leader John Winthrop as “imploring his fellow Christian settlers to stand as a beacon of faith for all the world to see.” Critics say the event has a highly partisan list of participants and is part of a larger project to connect America’s upcoming 250th birthday with a Christian nationalist vision that portrays the nation’s founding as essentially Christian, something many historians dispute. White Christians, particularly evangelicals, have been crucial to Trump’s electoral base. The list of participants — which overwhelmingly includes Republican politicians and Christian supporters of Trump — shows it to be “very much a right-wing MAGA, Christian nationalist effort,” said Brian Kaylor, author of “The Bible According to Christian Nationalists: Exploiting Scripture for Political Power,” referring to Trump’s “Make America Great Again” movement. “If they wanted this to be a unifying American project, there would have been a whole lot more attention to getting political diversity and ideological diversity,” added Kaylor, president and editor-in-chief of Word&Way, a progressive site covering faith and politics.#donald_trump #america_250 #bible_reading_event #christian_nationalists #vote_common_good
Andy Reid to Narrate ‘Music & the Spoken Word’ for America 250 Celebrations Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid will narrate the “Music & the Spoken Word” broadcast on July 5, joining The Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. The event, part of the America 250 celebrations, will be held on the Sunday following Independence Day, with live broadcasts at 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. MDT. The program will be accessible via television, radio, and the choir’s YouTube channel. Reid, a three-time Super Bowl champion and respected NFL coach, will reflect on themes of unity, perseverance, and faith, drawing from his personal connection to the nation’s founding. He recalled spending over a decade near Independence Hall in Philadelphia, where the Declaration was signed. “The Founding Fathers were the ultimate team—facing adversity, staying the course, and building something that has endured for 250 years,” Reid said. “I’m honored to join The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square to celebrate the birth of our nation in a place that reflects the same spirit of unity and faith.” The “Music & the Spoken Word” broadcast will feature performances by the 360-voice choir and 85-member orchestra, an organ solo, and a spoken message. Derrick Porter has been the producer and presenter since June 2024. The event will be free to attend, with tickets required for the July 5 broadcasts. Details about ticket availability will be announced later. Reid previously directed the Tabernacle Choir during a 2003 performance in Philadelphia’s Mann Theater as part of the choir’s Northeast tour. He described the experience as “the thrill of thrills,” comparing it to the Super Bowl.#the_church_of_jesus_christ_of_latter_day_saints #andy_reid #tabernacle_choir #temple_square #america_250
