Donald Trump’s obsession with getting his $400 million ballroom built is not shared by Congressional Republicans, who are reportedly keeping an arm's distance from his court battles.
According to Politico's Hailey Fuchs and Riley Rogerson, a federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to halt construction on the highly controversial ballroom until Congress explicitly authorizes the project. The ruling has shifted responsibility directly to Republicans, who are now responding with deafening silence.
Trump unilaterally demolished the historic East Wing and charged ahead with replacing it with a lavishly expensive ballroom for entertaining wealthy donors. But the courts said not so fast — Congress must approve it first.
Some Trump allies are offering performative support while also making it crystal clear they won't lift a finger to help.
"Nobody raised hell when Roosevelt or Truman renovated the White House (at taxpayer expense)," said Rep. Mike Simpson (R-ID), through his spokesperson, while calling the ruling "stupid" — then immediately declined to take any action.
Conservative judicial activist Mike Davis, close to the White House, is openly frustrated with GOP cowardice.
"Are they just going to let the ballroom just sit there in disarray … they're just going to let the construction zone be a f------- disaster for the next three years? Like, come on."
Most Republican committee chairs are completely absent. Those with direct jurisdiction over White House property matters are remaining silent on whether they'll push legislation to authorize the project. Doing so would expose them to Democratic attacks — the party has already framed the ballroom as proof Trump cares more about entertaining elites than reducing costs for ordinary Americans.
Democrats have the ability to block things in the Senate and have vowed to block any ballroom authorization bill from reaching Trump's desk. They've previously attempted to explicitly ban appropriations for the project.
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) has defended the ballroom in the past, comparing it to renovations undertaken by Obama and earlier presidents. But Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) refused to comment Wednesday on whether they'd push legislation now.
Privately, Republicans have decided this isn't their problem — at least not yet. They're overwhelmed with other urgent matters: ending the DHS shutdown, reauthorizing controversial spy powers, and meeting Trump's deadline for GOP-only immigration enforcement legislation.
The ballroom was supposed to be completed by 2028, just before Trump's term ends. If the courts don't intervene and Congress doesn't act, that timeline is now in serious jeopardy.