{"id":48187,"date":"2026-05-12T11:33:53","date_gmt":"2026-05-12T18:33:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/?p=48187"},"modified":"2026-05-12T11:33:54","modified_gmt":"2026-05-12T18:33:54","slug":"senate-dems-take-aim-at-trumps-1-billion-let-them-eat-cake-ballroom-as-us-economic-suffering-grows","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/2026\/05\/12\/senate-dems-take-aim-at-trumps-1-billion-let-them-eat-cake-ballroom-as-us-economic-suffering-grows\/","title":{"rendered":"Senate Dems Take Aim at Trump\u2019s $1 Billion \u2018Let-Them-Eat-Cake\u2019 Ballroom as US Economic Suffering Grows"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"Senate<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Workers are seen on top of a construction crane above the White House on April 28, 2026 in Washington, DC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00a0(Photo by Anna Moneymaker\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis week, Republicans will spend their time trying to get taxpayers to fund Trump\u2019s parties,\u201d said Sen. Chris Murphy.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Brad Reed<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

May 11, 2026 (CommonDreams.org)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even as US consumer sentiment hits record lows<\/a>, gas prices<\/a> remain stuck above $4.50 per gallon, and millions of Americans face cuts to basic assistance, Republicans<\/a> in the US Senate<\/a> are going to try to pass a massive spending bill that includes $1 billion for President Donald Trump\u2019s proposed luxury ballroom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As Punchbowl News reported<\/a> on Monday, Senate Democrats are planning to put the ballroom project in the spotlight and make supporting it as uncomfortable as possible for their Republican colleagues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

RECOMMENDED…<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Under<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Under Trump, Record Number of Americans Say Personal Finances Getting Worse<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Republican<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

GOP Senators Unveil Plan to Pay for $400 Million White House Ballroom With Taxpayer Funds<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In a letter<\/a> sent to fellow Democrats, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer<\/a> (D-NY) slammed the GOP<\/a> for giving priority to the president\u2019s vanity project amid economic suffering caused by his policies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAt a time when Americans can\u2019t make ends meet, Republicans say \u2018Let them eat cake,\u2019\u201d Schumer wrote, \u201cand then hand Trump a billion dollars to build a ballroom to serve it in. Americans do not need a ballroom. They need relief.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Schumer went on to blast his GOP colleagues as \u201cBallroom Republicans\u201d who are \u201casking working families to pay the price while Donald Trump<\/a> pockets the perks.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sen. Chris Murphy<\/a> (D-Conn.) similarly drew a contrast between the economic pain being felt by Americans with Trump\u2019s desire for a luxury ballroom to be constructed at taxpayers\u2019 expense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cGas is over $6 a gallon in many places,\u201d Murphy wrote<\/a> in a social media<\/a> post. \u201cFarms are going bankrupt. Billions are being wasted on a war that\u2019s making us weaker. And this week, Republicans will spend their time trying to get taxpayers to fund Trump\u2019s parties.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rep. Brendan Boyle (D-Pa.), the top Democrat on the House Budget<\/a> Committee, said<\/a> that the proposed ballroom \u201cperfectly sums up what Trump really cares about,\u201d noting that \u201cwhile Americans are paying more for gas and millions are losing their healthcare<\/a>, Trump can only think of his vanity ballroom.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During a Monday appearance on MS NOW, Boyle said \u201cthere is no way in hell I am going to vote for $1 billion of taxpayer money to a stupid, unnecessary ballroom,\u201d and vowed to reverse the cuts to\u00a0Medicaid<\/a>\u00a0that Republicans made last year with their budget law. The cuts are\u00a0projected<\/a>\u00a0to result in 10 million Americans losing their insurance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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"There is no way in hell I am going to vote for $1 billion of taxpayer money to a stupid, unnecessary ballroom that is nothing but a vanity project for Donald Trump." @CongBoyle<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/jgRUpuN7h8<\/a><\/p>— Progressive Caucus (@USProgressives) May 11, 2026<\/a><\/blockquote>