Weeks after kicking millions of Americans off their health care and ripping away food assistance, Donald Trump and his billionaire friends are blowing $200 million on building a lavish ballroom.

In response to the announcement today that Trump is building a $200 million ballroom in the White House, DNC Rapid Response Director Kendall Witmer released the following statement:

“Right after ripping away health care and food assistance from working families, Donald Trump is starting construction on a $200 million ballroom to host his billionaire donors and ultrarich friends. After orchestrating the largest wealth transfer in history from the working and middle classes to the ultrawealthy, and starting a trade war that has accelerated inflation and driven up prices, Trump’s priorities are loud and clear: billionaires first and working families last.”

PLAYGROUND FOR THE RICH: Donald Trump and his billionaire buddies are potentially gutting the historic White House East Wing to build their own excessive $200 million ballroom. 

Karoline Leavitt: “We are proud to announce that the construction of the new White House ballroom will begin. … The White House state ballroom will be a much-needed and exquisite addition of approximately 90,000 total square feet of innately designed and carefully crafted space with a seated capacity of 650 people, which is a significant increase from the 200-person seated capacity in the East Room of the White House.” 

Taylor Popielarz, Spectrum News: “White House @PressSec announces President Trump is going to have a $200 million ballroom built on the White House grounds.” 

While Trump builds himself a ballroom, Americans are suffering under sky-high prices and massive layoffs thanks to Trump’s disastrous economic agenda.

Challenger, Gray, and Christmas: “U.S.-based employers announced 62,075 job cuts in July, up 29% from June’s 47,999. It is up 140% from 25,885 announced in the same month last year, according to a report released Thursday from global outplacement and business and executive coaching firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas. … 

“So far this year, companies have announced 806,383 job cuts, the highest YTD since 2020 when 1,847,696 were announced. It is up 75% from the 460,530 job cuts announced through the first seven months of last year and is up 6% from the 2024 full year total of 761,358.”

Heather Long, Washington Post: “JUST IN: PCE inflation rose 0.3% in June. That takes the annual inflation increase up to 2.6% (highest since February).

“‘Core’ PCE inflation (excluding food and energy) ticked up to 2.8%

“The most interesting data is WHAT people are and aren’t buying. Take a look at the chart. People are really staying away from cars and car parts out of fear of tariffs.”

Ernie Tedeschi, Yale Budget Lab: “Core PCE inflation comes in 0.26% MM (3.1% annualized) in June, 2.8% YY. 

“Durable goods have risen in price by 1.7% so far year to date. Other than the depths of the pandemic, that’s the strongest 6-month rise in PCE durables prices since 1987.”  

This comes just weeks after Trump signed his billionairefirst budget, ripping health care and food assistance away from millions of Americans. 

💸 Working Americans will lose $1,600 a year, while high-earners will see their incomes boosted by $12,000. 

🏥 17 million Americans could lose health insurance, a whopping 27% of nursing homes could be forced to close their doors, and more than 300 rural hospitals could close.

🍞 More than 22 million working families could lose some or all of their food benefits. 

🏠 Experts say it is “the most regressive tax and budget law in at least the past 40 years—and possibly ever.”

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