"Cough up more donations"… U.S. diplomatic missions pressuring firms to fund Trump’s ‘founding party’

Korea Economic Daily

Summary

U.S. embassies and consulates said they are asking corporate executives in Asia for large donations to support the 250th anniversary celebrations.
Other U.S. embassies in Asia have already raised $37 million, and some companies are reported to have donated more than $1 million.
Critics say a competitive push among some ambassadors over who can raise the most funds has emerged, raising questions about whether the practice helps America’s image.

Some embassies in Asia have already raised tens of billions of won

Critics also ask, “Does this help America’s image?”

U.S. diplomatic missions overseas have launched efforts to raise large donations from companies in their host countries, in line with President Donald Trump’s plan for what he has called “the most spectacular 250th anniversary celebration in history.”

According to The New York Times (NYT) on the 15th (local time), U.S. embassies and consulates in parts of Asia—including Singapore, Japan and Hong Kong—are asking local corporate executives to contribute to events marking the United States’ founding.

Trump announced the 250th anniversary celebration at the White House last December, saying it would be “the most spectacular birthday party in world history.” Since then, key supporters and donors have actively raised money for the event, and that momentum has now extended to overseas missions, the report said.

According to the report, U.S. Ambassador to Singapore Anjani Sinha proposed donations to business leaders at a dinner held on the 5th at Singapore’s Capella Hotel, telling them, “We need your money.”

He said the donations would be used for events such as a rodeo competition and the Rockefeller Christmas Tree lighting ceremony as part of the anniversary celebrations, and added that at a future Independence Day event in Singapore he plans to perform with dancing and singing.

Sinha said other U.S. embassies in Asia have already raised $37 million (about 53.5 billion won) and pressed for more contributions in Singapore. Some companies are said to have donated more than $1 million (about 1.4 billion won). Dozens of executives from U.S. companies including Citibank, Coinbase, Harley-Davidson and 3M attended the dinner.

U.S. embassies have traditionally accepted private donations for July 4 Independence Day events, but said they have never made requests as aggressively as they have this year.

Ted Osius, a former U.S. ambassador to Vietnam, said that among some ambassadors there is now a competitive atmosphere over who can raise the most funds, and questioned whether such behavior helps America’s image.

The United States has held Independence Day events each year around July 4, but the Trump administration plans a range of commemorations this year for the 250th anniversary, including hosting a mixed martial arts (UFC) event at the White House and staging a large-scale fair in Washington, D.C.

Park Su-rim, Hankyung.com reporter paksr365@hankyung.com