Read Trump’s Pitch Deck for Selling America’s Birthday

House Democratic staff of the Natural Resources Committee warned on Monday that Donald Trump is using America’s 250th birthday to enrich himself, selling multimillion-dollar sponsorships to the event through a new dark-money vehicle within the National Park Foundation, the charitable arm of the National Park Service. It’s not clear whether Trump is breaking the law, staff said; the vehicle, Freedom 250, is the subject of an oversight and investigations hearing tomorrow morning.

Staff on the call Monday shared what is essentially a pitch deck for donors that lists the prices for various levels of access to the anniversary events and to Trump.

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Half a million bucks will get you partnership and brand recognition, premier rights and VIP access to six events, plus a place for your logo on social media “to reflect your support of this profound milestone in American history.” That’s the Red, White & Blue level.

Patriot Sponsors cost more, at least $1 million. You get the same benefits as the first tier, plus media partnership and “Freedom 250 fellowship & gratitude,” which comes in the form of a “thank you reception hosted by President Donald J. Trump, with a historic photo opportunity.”

Two and a half million pushes you to the Liberty Founders circle, which comes with the benefits of the first two levels, plus a VIP speaking slot during the July 4, 2026, celebration in Washington, D.C. (“*Limited availability, based on first come, first served basis”).

The fourth tier is Freedom Partner. You need $5 million for this one. The benefits are the same as the Liberty Founders, but the placement of your logo is “prominent.” The same is true of the fifth and most expensive tier—American Legacy Partner—which costs at least $10 million. Same goody bag, but your logo placement is “most prominent.”

The pitch deck directs donors to “help communities across the country honor America’s 250th birthday with meaning, pride, and patriotic spirit,” like hosting a prayer breakfast at which faith leaders “speak on God & country,” readers pair biblical scriptures with quotes from the Founding Fathers, and families “write what they love about America” on a “Blessings Wall.”

Core topics to “elevate” at these events include far-right Christian nationalist talking points, highlighting “the Declaration’s promise of life, liberty, and the Creator as the source of our rights,” and Trump’s vanity projects. One section suggests donors use “aligned messaging” in ads for their event, including the phrases “Our rights come not from government, but from God, and the government’s job is to protect them”; “As we celebrate America at 250, we don’t just thank God for the past, we pray for courage to shape the future”; and “We honor leaders who defend life, protect truth, and uphold the God-given freedoms that made this country great.”

“Your event is unique, but it’s also part of a national movement to celebrate America and set the tone for our next 250 years,” the deck says.

The fundraising group Freedom 250 is a slush fund for wealthy interests to make tax-deductible donations to Trump in return for access and favor. It is a limited liability company created within the National Park Foundation, the nonprofit that fundraises for the National Park Service under a congressional charter, and it’s a problem, staff said Monday.

“We’re not really meant to handle a situation in which access at the highest levels would be exchanged for the donations,” said Vic Edgerton, staff director of the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee of the House Committee on Natural Resources. Nonetheless, interior secretary and former Microsoft executive Doug Burgum is requiring staff to make Freedom 250 the lead on all semiquincentennial events, including sticking the logo on all printed material, social media, and websites, staff said. The National Park Service is a bureau within the Department of the Interior.

Trump also wants to use money from the slush fund to pay for his Arc de Trump and any other projects he can claim have a connection to the National Park Service, Edgerton added, and noted there are “open questions” about whether he will use it for other projects, including his ballroom and golf courses. He said he expects questions at tomorrow’s hearing about the lack of transparency about donors. Democrats’ witnesses on Tuesday will include Alan Spears, senior director of cultural resources in the government affairs department of the National Parks Conservation Association, and Tim Whitehouse, executive director of Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility.

“Trump is hijacking the machinery of what should be a grand celebration of the 250th birthday,” Edgerton said, “turning it into a funding mechanism for his own projects.”

You can read the entire pitch deck below.

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