President Donald Trump recently admitted that he has been defeated by his long-time nemesis, the proverbial "swamp" of the Washington, D.C. establishment, according to one ex-GOP analyst.
Tim Miller, host of "The Bulwark Podcast," said in a new episode on Thursday that Trump's announcement that he is fundraising private dollars to finance the construction of a "gilded" ballroom at the White House is an admission that he's been defeated by the swamp. He also described the project as "blatant corruption."
"Donald Trump is now fully in league with the corporate establishment," Miller said. "He's fully in league with the lobbyists. He's fully in league with the deep state. He's fully in league with the military-industrial complex. All of the powerful interests in Washington have co-opted Donald Trump, and they've done so by bribing him with a pretty ballroom where he can have dinner parties because that's what he actually cares about."
Trump first announced plans for the White House ballroom over the summer. Initially, the president said it would not damage the East Wing of the White House. However, he has since completely demolished the East Wing as part of the renovation.
Initial estimates for the project suggested it may cost $200 million, which Trump has said will be paid for by private funds. Trump said on Thursday that the project's estimated cost is now nearly $350 million.
Miller also noted that several of the companies that appear to be funding the project are also seeking favorable treatment from the administration, especially cryptocurrency companies.
"There is straightforward corruption that's at play here," Miller said.