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Who Is Paying For Trump's Gold-Encrusted White House Ballroom?

President Donald Trump garnered a wave of social media shaming after video emerged of him walking along the roof of the West Wing and examining the White House grounds from above as he plans construction on a new $200 million ballroom off the East Wing.

CBS News Reporter Jennifer Jacobs was among reporters catching Trump as he toured the grounds from above, accompanied by architect James McCrery.

"Extremely rare sight: a president taking questions from reporters from the roof of the West Wing," Jacobs reported. "Trump was up there to assess the White House grounds as he plans new construction"

"'Taking a little walk,' he told reporters," she continued. "He was making plans for something that he said 'goes with the ballroom which is on the other side.' He jokingly answered one question about what he wants to build: 'Nuclear missiles.'"

“‘Just another way to spend my money for the country,' he told us,” Jacobs wrote on X, describing the president's shouted answers to the press as a "gaggle."

The Hill reports the president is claiming the construction of the ballroom “will be covered by Trump and other donors,” but critics said on X that Trump has provided no proof that he is using his personal money to finance the construction.

“… there is no evidence the President is using personal funds to pay for this project,” said one commenter.

Trump also told reporters: "Anything I do is financed by me so it's contributed — just like my salary is contributed, but nobody ever talks about that."

But other critics questioned the purpose of the construction. “Trump’s not building for the country; he’s building for the cameras,” said one. “Ballrooms don’t solve inflation. Chandeliers don’t lower healthcare bills.”

Common Dreams writer Jessee MacKinnon called the plan a “spectacle, financed by national rot.”

“The timing is not subtle. It arrives alongside his ‘One Big, Beautiful Bill,’ a federal budget that slashes Medicaid, food stamps, public housing, and climate programs, all while inflating the national deficit past $40 trillion,” wrote MacKinnon. “… We are not witnessing innovation. We are watching reruns of Versailles.”

Last week, ‘Table for Five’ host Abby Phillip called the project inconsistent with the Trump administration’s alleged position on government inefficiency.

“They're currently … cutting [the budget] in the big, beautiful bill and Medicaid … and then they're saying, on the other hand, ‘let's renovate the Oval Office, let's renovate the East Room, let's renovate the Rose Garden.' I mean, it's hard to understand,” Phillip said.

Online critics remained skeptical that taxpayers aren’t somehow footing the bill.

“This man’s wealth has doubled since taking office in 2017. The self-dealing is ceaseless,” one critic wrote.

"Me describing a snowman in a game of charades," posted CNN reporter Andrew Kaczynski alongside a video of Trump gesticulating with his hands.

Trump surveys the roof of the West Wing, hints at renovations to come pic.twitter.com/jcFTFPGs6u
— DJ Judd (@DJJudd) August 5, 2025

Watch the videos here or at this link.

— (@)

Reprinted with permission from Alternet.

Trump's Gotcha Moment: Making A Fool Of Himself At The Fed

Okay, go ahead and pick your jaws up off the floor, so I can get started. What is Trump wrong about this time? The Federal Reserve’s renovation project, because of course he is! He’s a six-time bankrupt former real estate magnate, so what would he know about building construction costs?

As little as you would think, it turns out. Trump made headlines today by forcing a snap visit to the construction site at the Federal Reserve’s Eccles building on Constitution Avenue in Washington. Met by Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, whom Trump has threatened to fire, Trump came quickly to the purpose of his visit to the Fed, the first by a president since 2006 when George W. Bush attended the swearing in of Ben Bernanke.

MAGA ducks nibbling at Chairman Powell, looking for a reason for Trump to fire him, suggested to Trump that he could use the cost overruns on the Fed’s renovation project as a pretext – you know, he’s wasting the people’s money! Fire his ass!

Trump made a show of pulling a sheaf of papers from the folds of his commodious suit and shoving them at Powell, as he claimed that the Fed cost overruns are not the $2.5 billion Powell has quoted, but $3.1 billion. Powell, looking surprised at Trump’s attempt at a “gotcha” moment, quickly scanned the papers he was handed and replied that told Trump had mistakenly lumped in the cost of another Fed renovation, to the Martin building just across C Street behind the Eccles building, which went through its own renovation beginning five years ago. The Fed is using the freshly renovated Martin building to house its offices until the renovation on its headquarters, the Eccles building, is completed.

Trump appeared upset by Chairman Powell’s easy dismissal of his “gotcha” and they moved on to complete the construction site tour. When asked by reporters if he still had plans to fire Powell, Trump brushed aside the questions. He doesn’t want another hiccup in the stock market, which has reacted negatively to Trump’s previous talk of firing Powell.

So, if Donald the genius builder was wrong about the cost overruns being more than advertised, what else could he have gotten wrong?

How about the fact that the Federal Reserve paid for the construction of both of its buildings and is paying for the renovations of the Eccles building from its own funds, over which the Executive Department of the federal government – that would be Donald Trump – has no control or authority whatsoever. Neither does the Congress, which did not appropriate the funds for either Fed building from the public tax coffers. Federal Reserve money is paying for the whole thing.

The cost overruns on the renovation are in line with every other construction project in Washington D.C., as it happens. Buildings as old as the Fed’s headquarters, built in 1935, have to undergo removal of lead and asbestos, just for starters. And then there is the involvement of the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts and the National Capital Planning Commission, which both oversee all building projects in Washington to make sure that they meet D.C. building codes and adhere to the federal classical style, which is mandated for government buildings in the nation’s capital.

And then there is the fact that the site of the entire Mall, on which the Fed headquarters sits, is filled with sediment dredged from the Potomac River to erase the creeks and swamps that once existed there. Part of the Fed renovation is to turn the building’s subterranean parking garage into new office space, necessitating the placement of 1,000 “micro-piles” beneath the building’s foundation, which are used when the ground does not permit the driving of regular construction piles.

The short answer: Costs go up, driven by building codes, redesigns, and the natural conditions of building on a former swamp. Powell knew this, and he knew the money in the cost overruns is Federal Reserve money, not Treasury funds. Trump didn’t.

This is what you get when a bumbling buffoon is elected to high office. But we knew that. And it’s what happens when the bumbling buffoon is consumed with ginning up as many distractions as possible to point the attention of his MAGA base and the media away from the real story in Washington D.C.: What is in the Epstein files? We already know the name of Donald Trump is in there, because the Wall Street Journal, now facing a $10 billion lawsuit from Trump, continues to report on details that keep coming its way from within the Trump White House.

And now Trump has to contend with the creators of the animated show, South Park, signing a $1.5 billion deal with Trump’s favorite media conglomerate, Paramount, to produce 50 new scathing episodes over the next five years, during four of which Donald Trump will be one of their biggest targets. The episode dropped last night skewered, among other things, Trump’s blackmail of Paramount for $16 million to settle yet another Trump lawsuit and closed with an AI-generated video of the Trump character wandering a desert, removing one piece of clothing after another until he is naked.

Dealing with South Park creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker, newly seated on a pile of Paramount money 100 times bigger than the amount Trump squeezed out of the conglomerate, is going to have him posting Epstein excuses with one thumb and South Park attacks with the other.

I’m thinking this is going to be one of the best August recesses ever.

Lucian K. Truscott IV, a graduate of West Point, has had a 50-year career as a journalist, novelist, and screenwriter. He has covered Watergate, the Stonewall riots, and wars in Lebanon, Iraq, and Afghanistan. He is also the author of five bestselling novels. He writes every day at luciantruscott.substack.com and you can follow him on Bluesky @lktiv.bsky.social and on Facebook at Lucian K. Truscott IV. Please consider subscribing to his Substack.

Reprinted with permission from Lucian Truscott Newsletter.

'They're Building Our Houses': Contractors Warn Against Trump's Mass Deportation

One key plank of former President Donald Trump's second-term agenda is mass deportations of undocumented immigrants. That policy proposal is now getting heavy criticism from construction industry leaders.

According to NBC News, homebuilders in particular are coming out against the ex-president's call to deport millions of immigrants. this includes builders in Republican-dominated states like Florida and Texas. Construction business leaders are worried that an already shallow labor pool could dry up even further if Trump followed through on his signature campaign initiative.

"They don’t think it’s going to happen,” Stan Marek, CEO of the Texas-based Marek Family of Companies, said of his colleagues in the construction industry. “You’d lose so many people that you couldn’t put a crew together to frame a house.”

“We need them. They’re building our houses — have been for 30 years,” Marek added. “Losing the workers would devastate our companies, our industry and our economy.”

Tampa, Florida homebuilder Brent Taylor, who runs a five-person construction business, said building is already a "very, very difficult industry," and is only "getting worse." He told NBC that Trump's proposed deportations would have a particularly adverse impact on both his company and his clients.

Taylor said that he often subcontracts labor, and that those who provide him with workers typically don't check workers' immigration status before sending them out to construction sites. He added that Trump's deportations would mean that he hypothetically "can only do 10 jobs a year instead of 20." He then noted: “Either I make half as much money or I up my prices. And who ultimately pays for that? The homeowner.”

The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that there are roughly 370,000 open construction jobs, and that figure would likely climb even higher if migrants are rounded up and deported en masse. And according to the National Immigration Forum, roughly 30 percent of construction workers in the United States are immigrants. That share of non-native born Americans working in construction climbs up to 40 percent in larger states like California and Texas.

Trump has said he would deport as many as 20 million immigrants if he were elected to a second term. That figure is noticeably higher than the number of undocumented immigrants currently in the U.S., which is currently estimated to be around 11 million. The former president has suggested he would revoke the Temporary Protected Status granted to migrants from unstable nations reeling from political violence and war like Afghanistan, Haiti, Honduras, Somalia, Syria, Ukraine, and Yemen, among others.

The logistics of rounding up, detaining and deporting that many people would be a massive endeavor. During the National Conservatism conference in July, Tom Homan — the former director of the Trump administration's Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) — hinted that ICE would kick its operations into high gear if Trump wins the November election.

"Trump comes back in January, I’ll be on his heels coming back, and I will run the biggest deportation force this country has ever seen,” Homan said. “They ain’t seen s— yet. Wait until 2025.”

Reprinted with permission from Alternet.

Seven Profitable Jobs Worth Pursuing in 2022

The past few years have brought about a huge demand for new people in the workforce. Even after the initial surge of the pandemic, America is still desperate for not only medical professionals, but also those that play a key part in marketing, safety, and support. If you are looking for a new field to pursue, then recent statistics show that certain industries are growing at an unprecedented rate. In this post, we will take a look at some of the most profitable positions you can pursue in 2022.

1. IT Systems Analyst

Without a doubt, 2022 has already brought about a host of new digital threats and cyber attacks upon businesses. Even Amazon, the world's largest e-commerce company, had to recently defend against a DDoS attack with the largest traffic volume recorded. With threats like these constantly on businesses' minds, becoming an IT systems analyst is sure to bring you tons of different opportunities and no shortage of work. In the IT industry, there is also a lot of room for growth depending on your strengths. If problem-solving and computers are your passion, then an IT position could be right up your alley.

2. Web UX Designer

Every company needs a website, and every website needs a designer. Now more than ever, companies are hiring full-time UX designers to keep their websites accurate, secure, and responsive to their target audience. With site-building skills on your resume, you are sure to be a high-demand employee in any industry, or you can even become a dedicated freelance web designer. There is no shortage of work on the Internet, so grow your skills accordingly.

3. Data Scientist

One of the newest roles that business owners are constantly hiring for is a data analyst. Data scientists and analysts do research and find trends to help a business make wise decisions, as well as keep their files safe and secure. If organization is a passion of yours, then a job in data science may be the perfect place for you.

4. Speech-Language Pathologist

If you have a passion for teaching and education, you may have been deterred by the low salaries historically associated with teaching work. While teaching salaries can run anywhere on the spectrum, the role of a speech-language pathologist, or speech therapist, generally has a median salary of around $80,000 a year. In this position, you can help anyone from babies to old folks, and use your gift for helping others in a real and rewarding environment.

5. Registered Nurse

It comes as no surprise that the Covid-19 pandemic has resulted in an increased demand for healthcare professionals. Registered nurses have worked an insane amount of 12-hour shifts to account for the shortage, and there is still by no means a lack of open positions. If you are passionate about health and helping others, an RN may be the perfect job for you.

6. Logistician

All of the products you see lining the shelves of your local store have most likely been delivered thanks to the help of a logistician. These experts guide the ordering, production, and transportation of products to ensure that there are no shortages. Logisticians are also the first hands on deck when a natural disaster strikes, making sure that communities get the equipment and supplies they need. If you work great behind the scenes, then consider joining the group of logisticians that keep our supply chain running.

7. Construction Manager

If you have a knack for building and teamwork, then you would be amiss if you didn't consider being a construction manager. Construction managers are crucial for every step of the building process, and have a say in everything from initial budgeting to physical construction. With an average salary of $97,000, they typically balance many projects at once. If you love seeing a project through from start to finish, then this job may be a great match.

Clearly, 2022 has brought about a huge demand for new members of the workforce. If you keep up with the market trends and plan your education accordingly, you are sure to have several job offers in whichever industry you choose.

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The National Memo is a political newsletter and website that combines the spirit of investigative journalism with new technology and ideas. We cover campaigns, elections, the White House, Congress, and the world with a fresh outlook. Our own journalism — as well as our selections of the smartest stories available every day — reflects a clear and strong perspective, without the kind of propaganda, ultra-partisanship and overwrought ideology that burden so much of our political discourse.
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