Elizabeth MacDonough: 1. Donald Trump: 0. The lawyer and guardian of Senate procedures in Washington may have thwarted the plans of the American president on Saturday, May 17, by making a decision applauded by Democrats. This decision directly threatens the funding of the ballroom desired by the Republican at the White House.
Donald Trump claimed that the construction of this impressive ballroom would be entirely financed by private funds, amounting to $400 million.
But Republican senators and the Trump administration recently requested $1 billion to be allocated at the federal level to the Secret Service to modernize the security of the entire East Wing of the White House, where the ballroom is supposed to be built.
This request, included in a budget bill related to immigration enforcement, is justified in light of the recent assassination attempt on Donald Trump at a press gala in Washington.
Requesting One Billion Dollars
Out of this billion-dollar funding, $220 million is designated to enhance White House security and $175 million is meant for training Secret Service agents, as reported by Axios this week.
Donald Trump’s party holds 53 senators compared to 47 Democrats, giving them a majority in the Senate. A similar situation exists in the House of Representatives, where Republicans outnumber Democrats (218 to 212).
The problem for the American president: some of his allies are hesitant to release federal funds to avoid worsening the deficit. Moreover, Elizabeth MacDonough ruled that any provision related to White House security funding must garner at least 60 votes in the Senate, as reported by Reuters.
In addition to rallying support within his ranks, Donald Trump would need the backing of at least seven opponents. This seems unlikely just a few months before the midterm elections.
Democrats “Ready to Fight Any New Provision”
Democratic senators have praised Elizabeth MacDonough’s decision. They foresee Republicans reintroducing a similar proposal and are prepared to oppose any new provision. They insist that taxpayers should not fund Donald Trump’s ballroom.
Chuck Schumer, the Democratic leader in the Senate, also noted, “Republicans tried to have taxpayers foot the bill for a billion-dollar Trump ballroom. Senate Democrats fought back and thwarted their first attempt.” He added, “Americans do not want or need a ballroom. And they certainly should not be forced to pay for it.”
In December, the National Trust for Historic Preservation (NTHP), a non-profit organization mandated by Congress for the preservation of historic buildings, took legal action against the project. They accuse the Trump administration of not complying with legal requirements for public inquiry and not obtaining congressional approval for the construction.
In October, the Republican president bulldozed an entire wing of the White House to make way for this ballroom, intended to host up to 1,000 people for various events and dinners honoring foreign dignitaries.
For Donald Trump, this project is particularly dear to him, as he frequently mentions the progress of the East Wing construction during public appearances unrelated to the renovations.
