Republicans in the Senate are hoping no one will notice their latest capitulation to Donald Trump for his pet project: A ballroom on the White House grounds that isn’t actually needed but has long been a dream of the so-called president.
Senators aligned with Trump placed the $1 billion in funding for the ballroom in a spending bill that is now before Congress, The Daily Beast reports.
“The proposal was outlined in a reconciliation package focusing on federal law enforcement and border security spending, which was released by Sen. Chuck Grassley, the chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, on Monday.”
“The legislation also allows for part of the $1 billion package to be used for security upgrades for the East Wing Modernization Project—also known as Trump’s ballroom project—including ‘above-ground and below-ground security features.'”
While the package is billed as being for law enforcement and border security, there’s a nifty little back door mention of “above-ground and below-ground security features.” In other words, the $1 billion could legally be diverted to pay for the ballroom if Trump decided such modifications were to “secure” the White House, including his precious ballroom.
According to Trump, the money is needed because he will be adding a “military base” beneath the ballroom, a fact he revealed as the result of a lawsuit filed to stop construction of the ballroom.
“The military is building a big complex under the ballroom, which has come out recently because of a stupid lawsuit that was filed,” Trump told reporters in March.
“The ballroom essentially becomes a shed for what’s being built under the military, including from drones, and including from any other thing.”
Sure, Donnie. And why would anyone ever doubt anything you say? After all, you never lie, do ya?
Next time you’re at the grocery store and can’t afford a pound of ground beef, or the next time you fill up your car with $5 a gallon gasoline, be sure and thank Dementia Don for making his ballroom safe and secure. Don’t you feel better now?
