America 250 in Iowa will be Trumptastic

Maybe you heard the one about the gilded autocrat who was in charge during his nation’s 250th anniversary of independence and made it all about him.

The punch line? We’re living it.

Strong nations are not afraid of their past. But strongman rulers are afraid of history because it might contradict their version of compulsory patriotism.

America 250 is supposed to celebrate our independence and the founding principles we aspire to as a people. Unfortunately, it appears this milestone will be a celebration of President Donald Trump, who thinks America was truly born when he came down the escalator to announce his run for president in 2015.

In 2024, Trump warned we “won’t have a country” if he lost the election.

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds is on board.

Reynolds announced her picks for a task force that will plan Iowa’s celebration, which likely will follow Trump’s lead. History steeped in culture war politics.

She’s not going to hear any dissent from this group.

It’s chaired by Lt. Gov. Chris Cournoyer and includes Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig and Secretary of State Paul Pate, all Republicans. Reynolds also appointed six department directors who serve at the pleasure of the governor.

The Sons and Daughters of the American Revolution get two seats. FAMiLY Leader Bob Vander Plaats, will be at the table, no doubt explaining why we had to chuck our once proud history of civil rights protections.

Also on the task force is Blake Waldrop, who founded an Iowa company, RMA Armaments, which makes the “world’s best body armor.” Waldrop was invited to the Trump White House for a manufacturing event during his first term.

Other member s are David Zrostlik, president and CEO of Stellar Industries, which manufactures work trucks and trailers, and Joe Nettleton, president of Cambrex, which makes drug substances and drug products.

There are slots for a the National Guard and the State Fair CEO, which seem to make more sense.

But if you’re looking for a historian or history educator, it appears you’re out of luck.

“Ever since President Donald Trump visited the Iowa State Fairgrounds to kick off the 250th celebration, my administration has been working to coordinate our own yearlong celebration,” Reynolds said in a statement.

Contrast this with the Minnesota commission, where seven members have expertise in history education, tourism and the humanities. So, learning about history appears to be the focus of Minnesota’s celebration. Weird.

Meanwhile, the president is pulling American history out by the roots at the Smithsonian, National Monuments and other sites. His allies are taking aim at America’s classrooms. Slavery, racism and stealing Indigenous land are too divisive. We need to focus on the great white guys who have done all the real history making.

Anyone who says otherwise is an America-hater.

Iowa Republicans will never defy Trump, even though he is the sort of leader our founders warned us about. To Trump “of the people, by the people and for the people” is a slogan to sell $100 “America 250” Bibles.

Otherwise, let it perish from the earth.

(319) 398-8262; todd.dorman@thegazette.com