Why Are These Groups Sponsoring Trump's Christian Worship Performance?
Civil rights group sends open letter to Mastercard highlighting hypocrisy
Donald Trump’s Rededicate 250 is a worship performance enshrining the state religion of the Trump administration: Pro-Trump conservative Christianity. There is a lot of Trump in there, but that’s the way, uh huh, uh huh, he likes it.
There is almost no religious diversity at the upcoming May 17 so-called rededication of the nation to god. One Jewish rabbi is the exception to a lineup of conservative Christian preachers, priests, talking heads, worship leaders, and pundits who will be on hand to pretend to dedicate America to the pro-Trump conservative Christian god.
In addition to government agencies and Christian non-profits, there are a few corporate sponsors who are underwriting the performance. Courtesy of journalist Nancy Levine Stearns, here is a list of the “participating partners.”
Speaking of Stearns, an organization she founded — Impactivize — sent an open letter to Mastercard calling out their commitment to civil rights. The letter begins:
Dear Michael Miebach, CEO at Mastercard:
Mastercard is listed as a corporate sponsor of President Trump’s Freedom 250, the White House-backed Christian nationalist hijack of America’s 250th birthday. Freedom 250’s “Rededicate 250” event is set to take place on May 17 at the National Mall. Pete Hegseth will headline the event, “rededicating our country as One Nation under God.”
Last night, President Trump posted a vile, racist attack against Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries on his Truth Social. Accompanied by a photo of Rep. Jeffries holding a baseball bat, the president wrote: “Low IQ Democrat Minority Leader, Hakeem Jeffries, is nothing but a THUG, and he is a danger to our country!”
Question: How does Mastercard reconcile sponsoring Trump’s white Christian nationalist ‘Rededicate’ event, presented by a president who is fomenting racist hatred and violence, with the company’s mission, established by the Center for Inclusive Growth? Shamina Singh is Founder & President, Center for Inclusive Growth, EVP, Sustainability at Mastercard.
Center for Inclusive Growth: “We’re putting Mastercard’s powerful assets in service of people and the planet, using insights and influence for impact.”
Read the rest here.
It seems to me that there is little to gain for corporations to sponsor this event. They appear to endorse all kinds of bigotry, the most obvious being the religious supremacy of the conservative Christian event. That’s not what I want to support in a land founded separating church and state.
The Christian Past That Wasn’t: Debunking the Christian Nationalist Myths That Hijack History (May 2026) is published by Broadleaf Books and available to order for Kindle and hardcover at Amazon or wherever books are sold (e.g. Christianbook.com or Walmart).
On Goodreads and plan to read The Christian Past That Wasn’t? Click the “want to read” tab on the Goodreads website.
My first book of history with co-author Michael Coulter, Getting Jefferson Right: Fact-Checking Claims About Thomas Jefferson, is only $4.99 (digital version) at Amazon.com; also available in paperback. Get it at Barnes and Noble as well.
I wonder if United Airlines is planning a merger that will require government approval.
There must be something to gain, or these corporations wouldn't be doing it. It may not be something obvious, but I am absolutely positive that if one "follows the money," a reason would be found.
Would be nice, if they insist on quoting the latest version of the POA, if the remembered the past by celebrating "one nation indivisible." But then, that's not what this regime wants.
15 days left until my book arrives.