The nation’s 250th birthday celebration will go on without the help of a White House appointed director who was removed from planning efforts after allegedly making unapproved posts and financial decisions.
Ariel Abergel, a 25-year-old who previously worked as a Fox News producer, was fired from the bipartisan Semiquincentennial Commission after being appointed to the role by President Trump.
The Wall Street Journal first reported the news of the Trump-appointee’s removal.
The commission is made up of 16 unpaid private citizens, eight members of Congress and 12 federal officials who serve as nonvoting ex-officio members supported by the America250 foundation.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Attorney General Pam Bondi, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) each serve on the committee.
Abergel was terminated “after he initiated a security breach of a commission social-media account, attempted to procure the resignations of multiple commissioners by misrepresenting himself as acting on behalf of Congressional leadership, and engaged in multiple other serious and repeated breaches of authority and trust,” a spokesperson from the America250 foundation told The Journal.
The spokesperson also noted that Abergel undertook measures that threatened the “Commission’s operations and reputation” by defying directives from the executive committee and independently approving programming, finances and communications without permission.
Abergel, sources familiar with the matter told the Journal, attempted to steer the theme of events toward honoring Trump.
The foundation did not immediately respond to The Hill’s request for comment on the matter.
However, Abergel told the Journal that the foundation is spewing “malicious lies” meant to “distract from the truth.”
He alleged that he was ultimately fired for making efforts to honor the late conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
Abergel posted from the official America250 account without approval, writing “America is in mourning. God bless Charlie Kirk,” as the caption.
The motive behind Kirk’s Sept. 10 assassination was widely debated online as some users seemingly celebrated the death of the GOP adviser and Turning Point USA co-founder. Trump administration officials have pledged to punish those found to be promoting the political violence.
Following Abergel’s social media upload, he was suspended, asked to resign and ultimately fired, according to The Journal’s reporting.
Despite his dismissal, the White House lauded Abergel for his work with the commission and for his hand in planning the military parade over the summer.
A White House official, in a statement to The Hill, said the administration “is incredibly proud of all of Ari Abergel’s work at America250 — most notably during the Army250 parade, which boldly honored the bravery and strength of our military men and women.”
The official added that the White House Task Force, “will continue to coordinate closely with America250 to ensure that all events heading into our nation’s 250th birthday are given the grand celebration our country deserves.”
