President Donald Trump got some bad news when a federal judge blocked construction of his much-touted White House ballroom project on Tuesday evening — but there is something buried in the ruling that could make it much worse for him, former federal prosecutor Joyce Vance wrote on her Substack.
"Senior Judge Richard Leon in the District of Columbia did the honors," wrote Vance. "He was appointed by George W. Bush in 2002, so, not exactly a liberal. The issue comes down to whether Trump has the legal authority to tear down the East Wing and build a ballroom. 'Because Congress holds the keys to the Nation's property, the President must have some statutory basis to build the ballroom,' Judge Leon explains."
Leon went on to note in his opinion that it is "not too late" for the project to move forward legally — Trump just has to get approval from the people's elected representatives in Congress, who hold the constitutional power to authorize such projects.
But he went further than that, Vance said, writing in a footnote, “The Court gives fair notice to Defendants, however, that any above-ground construction over the next fourteen days that is not in compliance with my Order is at risk of being taken down depending on the outcome of this case.” In other words, we may soon not just be seeing an appeal of the order, but "the prospect of a fight over contempt, given the Judge’s footnote, above."
Trump, for his part, has reacted with fury to the decision, proclaiming that "This is being financed privately. It's a donation that's being given by companies. Very rich companies. Very rich people ... they don't give Congressional approval for this. We didn't ask for any tax money. This is taxpayer-free."
He also argued that he has discretion because it will have a "drone-proof roof" and therefore serves a national security purpose, which is his purview.
"Brilliant logic from the President. What’s next? A strip club with bomb shelter doors?" Vance wrote mockingly of that argument.