A new report that uncovered hidden taxpayer costs to build President Donald Trump’s ballroom left one analyst aghast on Tuesday.
The Washington Post reported that internal estimates of the cost of Trump’s ballroom have ballooned to more than $600 million, more than double the president’s initial estimate. Trump had previously said the ballroom would cost roughly $300 million, and that the entire cost would be borne by private donations.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) confirmed to reporters on Tuesday that the current plan includes spending roughly $300 million in taxpayer money on security measures for the ballroom.
Jonathan V. Last, an editor for The Bulwark, reacted to the report on a new episode of “Bulwark Takes” with the outlet’s managing editor, Sam Stein.
“Sam, originally the East Wing wasn’t going to be touched. Do you remember that?” Last said about the incongruence of Trump’s statement about the ballroom. “Everything about this project has been a lie. It’s like George Costanza is running the White House.”
Last added that a Democratic president should knock down the ballroom and then pass a law prohibiting a president from unilaterally redeveloping the White House again.
“The message has to be to future aspiring strong men, ‘Do what you want; we will knock it down and replace it with exactly what was there beforehand down to the brick,’” Last said.
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