US president Donald Trump holds a model of a triumphal arch which, it is intended, will be constructed in Washington to commemorate the country’s 250th anniversary. Photograph: Doug Mills/New York Times
From his desk at the White House in December, US president Donald Trump has announced a campaign to organise a series of July 4th celebrations for the country’s 250th birthday, saying it would be “the most spectacular birthday party the world has ever seen.”
On the other side of the world, embassies and consulates are echoing the president’s message and pitching executives to hand over large donations for splashy events.
In Hong Kong, companies have received “America 250” forms from the US consulate soliciting donations. In Japan, companies have heeded the call and committed to tens of millions of dollars in contributions. In Singapore, the US ambassador pressed for donations before a room full of executives at a dinner at one of the city-state’s most expensive hotels.
The solicitations from the diplomatic outposts come as the president’s allies are aggressively raising money for a host of events and projects around the 250th anniversary of US independence.
“I think there is a competitive environment between some of the ambassadors right now of who can raise the most,” said Ted Osius, a former long-time diplomat who served as US ambassador to Vietnam from 2014 to 2017.
On February 5th, over a five-course mea
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