President Trump now sees his 2020 election loss as a “providential” occurrence that put him in office to preside over the celebration of America’s 250th birthday, US Chief of Protocol Monica Crowley told the Post’s Miranda Devine on “Pod Force One.”
“Now [Trump] says, ‘You know what? 2020 had to happen that way. It was providential,’ Crowley told Devine in the latest episode of the podcast out Wednesday. “It was because now he’s back, and he will preside over these incredible events.”
The chief of protocol added that “[Trump] figured, well, after 2020’s election, he wasn’t going to be in office to see those events,” which include primarily the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence’s signing, along with the FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Olympics.
“Many people have told me that God spared my life for a reason,” President Trump proclaimed during his victory speech in the early hours of his Election Day celebration party at Mar-a-Lago. AP
“America 250 is the one that is upon us now,” Crowley said. “We are going to have a year-long celebration of America.”
As recently as May, Trump was still calling his 2020 election loss “RIGGED” and “[t]he biggest crime of all,” though federal judges heard evidence in dozens of court cases without ruling any widespread fraud had occurred enough to hand the victory to Joe Biden.
Allegations of fraud in the 2020 contest were also rejected by Trump officials, including former FBI Director Christopher Wray and former Attorney General Bill Barr.
The 45th and 47th president has at times acknowledged his defeat, telling the podcaster Lex Fridman in September 2024 that he “lost by a whisker” to his Democratic opponent four years prior.
“America 250 is the one that is upon us now,” Crowley said. “We are going to have a year-long celebration of America.” New York Post
Biden carried all the swing states except for North Carolina in 2020, whereas Trump trounced Vice President Kamala Harris in all seven battleground states in 2024.
Some clergy members — including an Episcopalian bishop who took a swipe at Trump as he took office — have referred to his later surviving an assassination attempt during a campaign rally in July 2024 as a “providential” act that paved the way for his return to the White House.
“Many people have told me that God spared my life for a reason,” Trump proclaimed during his victory speech in the early hours of his Election Day celebration party at Mar-a-Lago.
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Trump’s second term also included the 250th birthday of the US Army, which the president marked with a proudly patriotic parade in Washington, DC, last month. Getty Images
“And that reason was to save our country and to restore America to greatness, and now we are going to fulfill that mission together. We’re going to fulfill that.”
Trump’s second term also included the 250th birthday of the US Army, which the president marked with a proudly patriotic parade in Washington, DC, last month.
Crowley said July 4 this year will kick off 12 more months of celebrating US independence that will culminate with the semiquincentennial of America’s founding.
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One hotly anticipated event will involve tall ship parades, similar to ones that occurred in 1976 and 2000, venturing into New York Harbor.
“Of course, the East Coast is the central location of the American Revolution, so cities like Boston, New York, Philadelphia, and Washington, DC, will be critical, but all 50 states in the Union have their own 250 commissions,” Crowley said. “It is going to be a massive celebration.”
“In Philadelphia, which obviously is going to be central to America 250, we have planned a mock debate in Independence Hall,” she added. “So current members of Congress probably going to take part in that. A lot of these things are still in the planning stages, but I can guarantee you a massive birthday party for America.”
Crowley said July 4 this year will kick off 12 more months of celebrating US independence that will culminate with the semiquincentennial of America’s founding. AFP via Getty Images
The World Cup games will also be hosted partially in Los Angeles, the same year, followed by the Olympic Games in the City of Angels in 2028.
“We’re getting through the America’s birthday, we’re getting through the FIFA World Cup, but the Olympic Games are coming down the pike very fast,” Crowley also said. “We will stay on top of it too with regard to the administration to make sure that the Olympic Games, just like America’s birthday and the World Cup, showcase America at its best.”