Democrats and liberal groups have been going nuclear over the fact that Donald Trump is constructing a new ballroom to replace the East Wing at the White House.
The National Trust for Historic Preservation filed suit to block Trump's plans, not that it will necessarily do any good, because the former East Wing is now a pile of rubble.
The judge in the case just issued an order that will allow Trump to continue construction, but he was warned not to do anything that could not be undone down the road.
The suit to block Trump was just filed on Friday, claiming, "No president is legally allowed to tear down portions of the White House without any review whatsoever -- not President Trump, not President Joe Biden, and not anyone else.”
But he did, and the East Wing as we know it is gone, so I am not sure what the plaintiffs expect to accomplish here.
Carol Quillen, President of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, added, "The White House is arguably the most evocative building in our country and a globally recognized symbol of our powerful American ideals.”
The White House responded, "President Trump has full legal authority to modernize, renovate, and beautify the White House - just like all of his predecessors did."
U.S. District Judge Richard Leon, a George W. Bush-appointed judge, has given Trump a small win, but it sure sounds to me like he is going to allow construction to continue as planned.
He has ordered another hearing, set to occur during the second week of January, and while he allowed above-ground work to continue, he warned that any “below-ground construction” should not take place until this issue is resolved.
Attorney General Pam Bondi responded on X, "Today @TheJusticeDept attorneys defeated an attempt to stop President Trump’s totally lawful East Wing Modernization and State Ballroom Project.”
She continued, "President Trump has faced countless bad-faith left-wing legal attacks -- this was no different. We will continue defending the President’s project in court in the coming weeks."
This is all just silly to me, as the ballroom is a much-needed addition to the White House, but Trump did not help himself with his latest announcement about the plans.
The master of deal-making and real estate just announced that the project could now run to as much as $400 million, despite an initial estimate of $200 million. He announced, “For 150 years, they wanted a ballroom, and we’re giving them — myself and donors are giving them, free of charge for nothing -- we’re donating a building that’s approximately $400 million. I think I’ll do it for less. But it’s [$400 million]. I should do it for less. I will do it for less.”
He continued, “It will be the most beautiful ballroom, and it will handle inaugurations. It’s got 5-inch-thick glass windows. Impenetrable by anything but a howitzer. … Who else but in our country would sue to stop $400 million beautiful ballroom?”
The fact that the money for the structure is being raised from private donors is not really the issue for me here. It is that the costs continue to rise, which gives the Democrats more ammunition. Personally, I don’t care how much the project costs, as long as private donors are paying for it; I am just sick and tired of Democrats whining about it and using it to attack the administration.
