The Supreme Court has given President Donald Trump the green light to continue working on a massive new ballroom at the White House, at least for now. I mean, who doesn’t need a fancy ballroom, right? The court’s decision has temporarily frozen a lower court ruling that would have required construction to stop at midnight Friday. I was sipping my coffee, reading this, and thinking, “This is going to be a long day.”
The order from Chief Justice John Roberts doesn’t address the legality of the project, which two other courts have said Trump is pursuing unlawfully because Congress hasn’t approved it. Instead, it’s meant to give the justices additional time to consider Trump’s request that the adverse rulings be paused indefinitely. I’m no lawyer, but it sounds like a classic case of “ask for forgiveness, not permission.”
Construction has been progressing rapidly, with a 250-person crew working 20-hour days, 7 days a week. The government claims the ballroom complex is already 65% complete. I’m starting to think Trump is trying to break some kind of record for the most construction done in the shortest amount of time. The National Trust for Historic Preservation, which sued over the project, is probably having a collective meltdown right about now.
The president views the ballroom and other construction projects as the foundation of his legacy. Recently, he suggested that those who oppose the effort are “very disloyal to our country.” I’m not sure what’s more surprising, the fact that he said that or the fact that I’m not surprised he said it. Trump also claimed that the ballroom will be “the greatest military complex slash ballroom anywhere in the world.” I’m not sure what’s more terrifying, the idea of a military complex or the idea of Trump’s taste in interior design.
The National Trust has shown that one of its members, Alison Hoagland, has been harmed by the new ballroom because it affects her enjoyment of the White House as an architectural historian. Trump, however, claims that Hoagland has “absolutely no standing.” I’m starting to think that Trump’s definition of “standing” is anyone who agrees with him.
In a recent review, PolitiFact found that Trump has spent significant time talking about the construction projects during public remarks — more than any other topic, except for his war with Iran. And as the legal fight has intensified, the price tag of the ballroom has steadily increased. The administration initially put the cost at $200 million, but now it’s up to “$400 million almost.” I’m starting to think that Trump’s budgeting skills are on par with his interior design skills.
In conclusion, the Supreme Court has given Trump a temporary win, but the battle is far from over. The National Trust is still fighting, and the price tag of the ballroom is still rising. As I finish my coffee, I’m left wondering what’s next in this saga. Will Trump get his ballroom? Will the National Trust prevail? One thing’s for sure, it’s going to be a wild ride. And who knows, maybe one day we’ll all be dancing in Trump’s fancy new ballroom, laughing about the time he tried to break the record for the most construction done in the shortest amount of time. 🙄
Armchair patriot. Believes in the free market, cold beer, and that there’s always a guy named George behind every CNN segment.
Former remote-throwing champion turned #1 couch commentator on liberal panic in the media. Born in Texas (or so his mug says), he earned a degree in Fake Newsology & Beer Philosophy from YouTube University.
