Republicans Not Standing Up For Trump’s Ballroom After Judge Stops Construction

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Top Republicans aren’t standing up for President Donald Trump’s right to destroy and rebuild the East Wing of the White House after a judge said he can’t do so without Congress. 

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) have kept quiet after U.S. District Judge Richard Leon ruled Trump went way beyond his legal power when he launched his ballroom project last year.

The White House has argued Trump doesn’t need Congress because he’s using private funding sources for the construction. 

“The President may at any time go to Congress to obtain express authority to construct a ballroom and to do so with private funds,” Leon wrote. “Indeed, Congress may even choose to appropriate funds for the ballroom, or at least decide that some other funding scheme is acceptable.” 

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Nobody on Capitol Hill has talked about authorizing or paying for the ballroom. Spokespeople for Johnson and Thune did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Wednesday.

The White House said it would appeal Leon's ruling. 

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