President Donald Trump is ready to work with Congress. Not on ending or even on oversight of the war with Iran, mind you, and certainly not on lessening the economic pressures that Americans continue to face. The president and his allies on Capitol Hill are moving to build his ballroom, seemingly with taxpayer dollars.
The unilateral destruction and replacement of the East Wing is more than a construction project. It is emblematic of the president’s vanity, as he obsesses over his gilded private space and not the priorities of the public. The term “ballroom” alone evokes an out-of-touch, elitist leadership. When Trump first proposed the project last year, he said it would cost $200 million from private donors (as the White House is now trying to hide those names). Now it’s $400 million — plus $1 billion in government funding set aside in the new budget reconciliation package.
The proposed ballroom, not public service, is the indelible symbol of the president and his legacy.
For a presidency that has destroyed norms and disregarded process, there are no better optics than the pictures of the debris after a White House complex is torn asunder. The proposed ballroom, not public service, is the indelible symbol of the president and his legacy.
And after years of complaints that Congress has stood aside and yielded its power to the Oval Office, GOP lawmakers are now moving quickly to fund the president’s wishes. While most Americans remain concerned about the rising price of gas, healthcare, education, housing and groceries, Republicans in Congress seem far more preoccupied with the president having another room to dine and have parties.
Even the private fundraising for the room raised questions about the donors’ motivations. Philanthropy is wonderful service to our country that benefits those in need, and can replace or complement the role of government. But in Washington, access often wears the robes of donations and charity, and the scale of the required donations far exceeded a well-intentioned and patriotic private sector.
But make no mistake: There could have been legitimate bipartisan discussions about a better event space on the White House grounds. Instead this has morphed into another litmus test for Republicans to show their loyalty to Trump and support for his worst instincts.
Politically, this is beyond malpractice from the White House. It is insanity that is now spreading to Congress ahead of the midterms. In a recent ABC-Washington Post poll, Americans opposed the ballroom, 56% to 28%. Yet there is a rarely a day when the president does not talk about his plans at any unrelated event or on social media, replacing key messaging on the economy and any other voter concerns.
An administration official told MS NOW that the money is not to build the ballroom, but to “better secure the White House complex.” Yet the text of the bill says the funding is for the “East Wing Modernization Project.” And the recent assassination attempt at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner would remain a security concern: The private event would never be held at the White House, and while the White House is already secure, there is no expectation that a president would only participate at events on its grounds. It serves neither the president’s interests nor the public’s to further isolate him from the world at large.
Even if you are rooting for Republicans and conservatives to win in November, it is hard to justify this spending now.
As in life, timing in politics is everything. Can anyone imagine a Republican member of Congress on the stump or in a campaign commercial touting their vote to spend $1 billion on a ballroom? Because you can bet Democrats and their ad makers will be.
The spending looks even worse considering the national debt recently hit $39 trillion. The Treasury Department projects a $2 trillion deficit this fiscal year. Even if you are rooting for Republicans and conservatives to win in November, it is hard to justify this spending now.
In an age of affordability concerns that threaten the American dream, further opulence and influence dealing in Washington simply sends the wrong message. This isn’t even “let them eat cake”; it’s “watch us eat cake.” If Republicans are determined to vote for this, they will be disappointed with the results in November.
Matthew Bartlett is an MS NOW political analyst. He served as a Trump appointee at the State Department in the first administration.