Ousted America250 director says leaders 'hate Trump more than they love America' after Kirk post

Ariel Abergel, the ousted executive director of the U.S. Congressional Semiquincentennial Commission, was fired after posting a tribute on the commission’s social media accounts for Charlie Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA. In an interview with Fox News Digital, Abergel said the firing followed his assertion that the commission’s leadership “hate President Trump more than they love America,” a claim he framed as evidence of long-running discord within the bipartisan panel.

The commission said Abergel initiated a security breach by using the account to post the tribute, then attempted to procure the resignations of multiple commissioners by misrepresenting himself as acting on behalf of Congressional leadership. The group’s counsel subsequently revoked his access to the office and IT systems, and he was asked to resign; after he refused, his employment was terminated. In a statement, the commission said it would promptly appoint a new executive director in coordination with the White House and Task Force 250.

Abergel, who was appointed to the commission earlier in 2025 by the Trump administration, told Fox News Digital that the panel has been “plagued by years of dysfunction, greed, and cronyism” and that America250 is “run by people who hate President Trump.” He said the firing, in his view, was a badge of honor tied to his insistence on pursuing what he saw as the president’s vision for the country’s 250th anniversary.

Among the tensions cited by Abergel and corroborated in interviews with sources familiar with the matter, he said he had pressed for a statement condemning political violence after Kirk’s death, but Rosie Rios, the chair of the commission appointed by President Biden, allegedly refused. Abergel said he then used the commission’s social media channels to post a tribute to Kirk, including a photo with the caption: “America is in mourning. God bless Charlie Kirk.” The post drew pushback from some staff and counsel, according to people familiar with the episode.

The White House has publicly supported Abergel’s work on America250. Deputy White House Press Secretary Anna Kelly told Fox News Digital that 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.” Kelly added that, through the White House Task Force established by President Trump’s January executive order, the White House would continue to coordinate with America250 to ensure that events heading into the nation’s 250th birthday receive a grand celebration.

In defense of his actions, Abergel said that “every major decision I made had the support of the White House, and in many cases, congressional leadership.” He rejected the notion that he misrepresented his authority and argued that the firing reflected broader political tensions surrounding the anniversary project. America250 issued a separate statement saying Abergel’s actions violated directives from the commission’s executive committee and described his conduct as a breach of trust that jeopardized operations and finances. The statement also noted that social media accounts and the commission’s website had been removed from his control and reassigned to another employee.

Rosie Rios, who chairs the bipartisan commission, has been described by Abergel as a figure at the center of ongoing tension within the group. The commission’s leadership said the organization remains committed to delivering a “once-in-a-lifetime celebration” for the United States’ 250th birthday and will move forward with a new executive director in coordination with the White House and Task Force 250. The body emphasized that it is independent of any single political faction and that its mission is to unite Americans around the milestone.

The broader context surrounding the story involves the Trump administration’s ongoing efforts to shape the national commemoration of America’s founding era through the America250 initiative. The project has drawn scrutiny amid broader partisan debates over how to mark the country’s 250th birthday, and Tuesday’s developments highlight the friction that can emerge when government-appointed staffers navigate political expectations and presidential alignment.

The government has provided a number of images for public consumption accompanying this report, including photographs of Abergel and related event graphics. For visual context, see the embedded images here.