Yesterday Chief Justice John Roberts singlehandedly gave Donald Trump the go-ahead to keep building his ballroom that was not authorized by Congress. Roberts’ one-sentence “emergency” order—pending some future time when the full court may rule—overrides a district court order that stopped the aboveground construction in April and a subsequent appeals court ruling. Federal judge Richard Leon had granted the request of the National Trust for Historic Preservation to stop the construction, stating that “no statute comes close to giving the President the authority he claims to have.” And more, Leon wrote, “The President of the United States is the steward of the White House for future generations of First Families. He is not, however, the owner!”
Once touted as a needed ballroom after Trump demolished the White House’s historic East Wing, it has since been justified as both a ballroom and a necessary “military complex” that is “vital for national security.” Once promised to be built with $400 million in private funds, the cost has risen to an estimated $600 million—with half of that total to be paid by you, me and every other taxpayer. Add this to the bottomless bucket of lies that we all are paying for.
When Judge Leon made his ruling this spring, he noted, “National security is not a blank check to proceed with otherwise unlawful activity.” When the three-judge appeals court ruled 2-1 two weeks ago, they noted that Congress had not “ceded unfettered authority to the executive branch to dramatically redesign, reshape and reconstruct the White House—the People’s House—to fit a particular president’s desires.”
But John Roberts in his infinite wisdom—on the day when the construction would have stopped without his temporary order—has now ensured that Donald Trump can keep erecting his vanity project that one day could serve as the bunker from which a new Democratic president will have to extract him. I wish I were being hyperbolic; everything is possible with this madman. The Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court has escalated the possibility of this scenario by green-lighting more building with the thin veneer that—“pending further order” of the full court at some future unnamed date—there could be a different outcome.
I believe these lawless and corrupt machinations illustrate the ugly truth of an unfettered criminal and dictatorial narcissist who is determined to build monuments for and to himself. This ballroom/military complex also showcases a broken system in which one man can pursue his whims and neither the authority of Congress nor a functioning Supreme Court can stop him. Looking ahead to the day when a Democratic president occupies the White House again, perhaps his or her agenda will include tearing down this monument to lawlessness, despotism and corruption.
What do you think? Must the ballroom be torn down? Does this have to be on the Democratic agenda? Should the East Wing be rebuilt? And, while we’re talking, should the Rose Garden be re-created, ending the Mar-a-Lago-style concrete parking lot furnished with tables and umbrellas? Lastly, does this latest act of fealty by John Roberts underscore the need for real changes at the Supreme Court, including expanding the number of justices and limiting the length of their terms?
As always, I look forward to reading your observations and the opportunity for the America, America community to learn from each other. Please do be respectful in your remarks. Trolling will not be tolerated.
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I will only vote for a candidate who campaigns on restoring all back to pre-Nazi buildings. East wing restored in full. All statues ungolded. EVERYTHING!
I would prefer blown up in a controlled implosion, but torn down will do.
I also think the WH should be restored along with the Rose Garden, and turned into a museum. No members of the executive branch should live there ever again.
Also, maybe we need to retool the Executive Branch into making it more of a group than a single figure?