One seriously has to wonder what Trump’s top priority is. 
April 16, 12:45 PM Ballroom Update
Truth Social: The White House doesn’t have a Ballroom (No Taxpayer Money!), which Presidents have desperately wanted and desired for over 150 years, but a Trump Hating, Washington, D.C. District Court Judge, a man who has gone out of his way to undermine National Security, and to make sure that this Great Gift to America gets delayed, or doesn’t get built, is attempting to prevent future Presidents and World Leaders from having a safe and secure large scale Meeting Place, or Ballroom, one with Bomb Shelters, a State of the Art Hospital and Medical Facilities, Protective Partitioning, Top Secret Military Installations, Structures, and Equipment, Protective Missile Resistant Steel, Columns, Roofs, and Beams, Drone Proof Ceilings and Roofs, Military Grade Venting, and Bullet, Ballistic, and Blast Proof Glass —which all means that no future President, living in the White House without this Ballroom, can ever be Safe and Secure at Events, Future Inaugurations, or Global Summits. This Magnificent Space will allow them to carry out their vital duties as the Leader of our Nation. Furthermore, the Ballroom, which is being constructed on budget and ahead of schedule, is needed now. Almost all material necessary for its construction is being built and/or on its way to the site, ready for installation and erection. Much of it has already been paid for, costing Hundreds of Millions of Dollars. If somebody, especially one with no standing, had a complaint — Why wasn’t it filed many months earlier, long before Construction was started? The Public Record was open for all to see. Everybody knew that it was planned, and going to be built. This highly political Judge, and his illegal overreach, is out of control, and costing our Nation greatly. This is a mockery to our Court System! The Ballroom is deeply important to our National Security, and no Judge can be allowed to stop this Historic and Militarily Imperative Project. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J. TRUMP
Apr 16, 2026, 12:45 PM
1:37 PM Ballroom Update
Truth Social: The person who filed the meritless and lawless suit on the desperately needed White House Ballroom, being built as a GIFT to America (without Tax Dollars!), a woman walking her dog, has absolutely NO STANDING to bring such a monumentally important case against our Country. The Trump Hating Judge’s opinion is radically different from his first opinion, that was issued weeks ago, while still being unlawful and ambiguous, which never even addressed her COMPLETE lack of Standing. Every Political “Pundit” has said this case is meritless, even a JOKE, but it’s not a joke to me, or the people of America. Too much hard work, time, and money spent in order that a Judge can claim that he ruled against “DONALD TRUMP,” something which I have gotten very used to, BUT WILL NOT ACCEPT! President DJT
Apr 16, 2026, 1:37 PM
2:05 PM Ballroom Update
Truth Social: The out of control Trump Hating, Washington, D.C. District Court Judge, who doesn’t want to accept a $400 Million Dollar GIFT of one of the most beautiful Ballrooms anywhere in the World, desperately needed by the White House and its future Presidents (Due to time constraints, I will barely get to use it!), wants me to build the “underground” portion of the Ballroom, without the “above ground” portion, but the underground doesn’t work, isn’t necessary, and would indeed be useless, without the above ground sections. The underground portion is wedded to, and serves, the upper portion, including the Bomb Shelters, a State of the Art Hospital and Medical Facilities, Protective Partitioning, Top Secret Military Installations, Structures, and Equipment, Protective Missile Resistant Steel, Columns, Roofs, and Beams, Drone Proof Ceilings and Roofs, Military Grade Venting, and Bullet, Ballistic, and Blast Proof Glass. It’s all tied together as one big, expensive, and very complex unit, which is vital for National Security and Military Operations of the United States of America! The Judge’s decision, which doesn’t even discuss the vital subject of STANDING, of which the plaintiff has none, severely jeopardizes the lives and welfare of the people who work, and will be working, at the White House — including all future Presidents of the United States, and their families. President DONALD J. TRUMP
Apr 16, 2026, 2:05 PM
4:41 PM Ballroom Update
Truth Social: A Trump Hating Judge, for the first time in History, wants Congress to pay Hundreds of Millions of Dollars for a Glorious Ballroom, instead of accepting Donations from Great American Companies and Citizens. This is a first — In other words, he wants Tax Payers to pay for the Ballroom, instead of Donors and Patriots! The Ballroom is FREE to our Country, A GIFT, and vital for our National Security. This Judge, who works for another Judge who was just MANDAMUSED for the unfair and biased way he treats me, should be ashamed of himself! President DONALD J. TRUMP
Apr 16, 2026, 4:41 PM
Trump Fumes Over Ballroom Pause as Aides Try to Shift Focus to Midterms
The Wall Street Journal comments Trump Fumes Over Ballroom Pause as Aides Try to Shift Focus to Midterms
President Trump and his senior aides had planned to shift focus on Thursday to the kind of domestic policy plans that could excite voters ahead of the midterm elections.
Then a federal judge in Washington, D.C., ordered a halt to the construction of Trump’s ballroom.
The ruling infuriated the president, setting off a string of social-media posts that overshadowed the administration’s efforts to refocus on his marquee accomplishments, such as the “no tax on tips” deduction, which is popular with many voters.
Aboard Air Force One, en route to a speech in Las Vegas, Trump also attacked a Fox News co-host who argued that savings from Trump’s tax cuts would be consumed by rising gas prices brought on by the Iran war. He later criticized right-wing influencers and a former top Trump administration counterterrorism official who resigned over his objections to the war.
Trump’s advisers have been encouraging him for months to refocus his attention on the economy in the midst of a second-term emphasis on foreign affairs—and to spend more time highlighting his achievements. But Trump has often ignored that advice, using his social-media posts and public comments to air grievances, insult his critics and promote his construction projects.
Leon, a George W. Bush nominee, previously blocked Trump from continuing construction of the ballroom while litigation was continuing. He had made an exception for work to keep the president, his family and staff safe. The administration appealed, and a federal appeals court asked Leon to clarify the scope of his order, in which he said that Congress should approve the project.
In a ruling Thursday, Leon said that construction related to the below-ground features like the bunker, bomb shelters and other facilities could continue, but work on the ballroom couldn’t, writing that the president had tried to get around his initial ruling by dubbing the rebuild a matter of national security. Leon wrote that “national security is not a blank check to proceed with otherwise unlawful activity.”
As the prospects dim for maintaining their congressional majorities, Republicans are eager to remind voters of the One Big Beautiful Bill that Trump signed into law last summer, legislation the White House describes as “the largest tax cuts in the history of our country.” Instead, on Thursday afternoon, Trump’s displeasure over the halted ballroom construction fueled a wide array of attacks, left and right.
The president berated Joe Kent, the national counterterrorism official who stepped down in protest of the Iran war, and again attacked the conservative influencers Megyn Kelly and Tucker Carlson, who have also criticized that conflict. He took a jab at New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. And as his clash with Pope Leo XIV continues, Trump criticized Italy for refusing to allow the U.S. use of its air bases, writing, “Italy wasn’t there for us, we won’t be there for them!”
Trump mostly returned to script once he arrived at a Las Vegas business roundtable. The president said the conflict was going “swimmingly” and predicted that it “should be ending pretty soon.”
His battle over the ballroom, meanwhile, continues.
Meanwhile, at the Fed
This week, some federal investigators showed up at the Fed’s construction site. Why? It’s unclear. All hell broke loose. Tillis posted a meme of The Three Stooges with the caption “The U.S. Attorney’s Office for D.C. at the crime scene.”
The federal investigators were denied entry. The construction site was said to be unsafe.
Joe Kent
What’s the Cost of the War?
Trump won’t say. But here’s the final word
This is a stooge act all around.
In case you missed it, please see Trump Threatens to Fire Powell if He Doesn’t Resign When Fed Chair Term Ends
Trump’s threat makes it far more likely Powell stays on.
Trump just cannot control himself.
For commentary along those lines, please see Which AI Models Have Any Sense of Humor and Sarcasm?
My previous post was a humorous, sarcastic look at Trump’s emotions. Here are two AI responses. Note: See addendum for a third AI Analysis.
Appeals court kicked it to June allowing construction to continue.
His ballroom or his BAAL-room?
Trump is a temporary resident in the peoples’ house; he owns no more of it then any other citizen. Seems each of the owner’s should have had the same say in the Trump monument, sorry, ‘renovation’ that he did through their representation in congress. Another example of my way or the highway from Trump. This is not an example of leading via convincing the owners of his plans, rather a king like decision with false basis that he has complete control. My thoughts about the contributors are that they are not contributing from their benevolence, rather they are looking for a return on investment, sort of stroking Trump’s ego via a bribe.
My elecric bill has doubled in the last year. Meanwhile the Grand Ole Pedophiles’ Secretary of “War” spent millions of our money for steak and lobster and our troops don’t have enough food to eat. If we survive this administration we don’t need proof of citizenship to vote, we need IQ and psychological tests to vote because this is a f ing Cult!
Anybody who is in charge of really big things (such as a general in charge of an army) has to make sure that the housekeeping is taken care of, too. That was one of Napoleon’s faults: he often took chances on whether his men were going to be fed. Trump thinks that the White House needs a ballroom, and I’m not going to argue with him. These stupid judges, fooling around with millions of pages of useless, incomprehensible laws and regulations (mostly propounded by scoundrels for their own benefit), should pull their heads in. One of these days, if American survives, a REAL dictator will probably come along and CUT THEIR HEADS OFF. Should have been done generations ago.
Poor little Donny. He doesn’t get to do whatever he wants to do to a building that he doesn’t own, especially when he plans to make it look like a two bit whore house. Say it’s not so!
“ his illegal overreach, is out of control, and costing our Nation greatly”
More projecting.
Pretty solid point. It’s just a major improvement for the times to historical building used day to day to govern the USA.
If somebody, especially one with no standing, had a complaint — Why wasn’t it filed many months earlier, long before Construction was started? The Public Record was open for all to see. Everybody knew that it was planned, and going to be built. This highly political Judge, and his illegal overreach, is out of control, and costing our Nation greatly.
There was actually a good video on why they did not sue earlier, and boils down that the white house told them it was for national security. Namely parts of the budling…now the story has changed as in total demolition. There is a good you tube video on it from channel “Leagle Eagle” they are definitely on the left side of the aisle , but their analysis of the case seems legitimate.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0wxT-Ij4XU
This would account for his calling attention to the security aspect over and over. The ballroom as is would block the view of the WH from Pennsylvania Ave. Maybe that’s part of his security strategy. Or maybe it could be an SS barracks just in case things get ugly. First it was $200M, then 250, 300, now $400M. Lots of people hedging for pardons when they may need them. As for his top priority, that’s always been the same; himself, once, always, and forever. But that’s no reason to have a gaudy disproportionate monstrosity. What’s he does is always over done. He has no taste and this why many of his ventures went sideways.
Mr President we have a Ballroom gap 🙂
One seriously has to wonder what Trump’s top priority is.
My guess
Not sure anything else really matters
Why would an 80 year old care about #1. Substitute: getting his ego stroked.
The Three Stooges–
Moe (Moses Horowitz)
Larry (Larry Feinberg)
Curly (Jerome Horowitz)
occasionally joined by Shemp (Samuel Horowitz)
TRUMP wins again!!!
DOW 50,000 incoming
MAGAtards are so back baby
TRUMP bans Israel from bombing Lebanon
Winning!
Because everyone knows that the stock market is the sole indicator of the economy and standard of living. Give it a rest.
Great for the rich. What do the magats have invested in it?
The more I read the comments the more I agree with Prof. Michael Savage’s book “Liberalism is a Mental Disorder” Activist Judges top the list.of Libtards.
The important thing is you keep coming back reading the comments. I assume it’s because you can’t get enough. Keep reading and keep posting, you are after all part of the commenters.
Another guy who gets all his exercise riding the Trump cycle of triumph
Trump makes a stupid decision
Something bad happens as a result
Trump reverses stupid decision
Trump convinces followers that he solved the problem
Activist Judges? Cut both ways. It’s the only thing keeping us from devolving into Taco’s designs on dictatorship. Since you like reading why don’t look up narcissism in the DSM-5. When you see a narcissist in charge you usually see an authoritarian.
Everything going to hell and the epstein class wants a big party room. Sounds about right.
Ok here it goes trump is upset because the ROI? Turns into nothing for him personally…..
The judge doesn’t realize the work stoppage order is a distraction from Iran and the Epstein files. Trump should be thanking the judge.
Mish, for the next 1,010 days consider naming your blog TrumpTalk.
Typical Mish clickbait headline. The US is engaged in the most significant conflict of the 21st century and Mish is reporting on ballrooms at the White House. Might as well write for WaPo or HuffPost Mish (or Jimmy Kimmel’s monologue).
Of course the fearless leader is running the treasury to the ground on a war that good Netanyahu wants ….
“The US is engaged in the most significant conflict of the 21st century and Trump is tweeting about a ballroom”
See how that works dummy?
The 25th Amendment requires 2/3 majorities of both houses of Congress to sustain a declaration of inability of the president to function. Vance should immediately explore that with the democrat leaders after they take control in January. If we’re not all dead by then.
did you request similar for Joe B ?
if not …
What war crimes did Biden commit? Why did the right not even TRY to impeach Biden?
Biden was retarded and demented. His aides were running things. Trump is crazy and demented. His staff are terrified of him. On balance, I’d say Trump is worse.
We could be, if he doesn’t stop blocking that oil.
ballroom? for what? the minuet? Seriously what is the ballroom for?
And this: US panel approves Trump’s design for massive arch in Washington, DCThe proposed 76-metre arch would tower over other iconic landmarks in Washington, DC, and has attracted scrutiny.
It’s a place for him to do that little dance where it looks like he’s jerking two imaginary dicks. This is truly a matter of national security.
This is my biggest issue with Trump! If he could just stay quiet when issues arise such as this. Doesn’t he have people than can deal with this particular issue for him? Put a person in charge, and have them give weekly updates of progress and delays. With that information, there is no need for Don to speak about it. Have that person give a bi-monthly update to the press or something, if he feels so compelled to do so, but STFU Please!!!
My biggest issue with him is that he’s owned by the Zionists and started an unconstitutional, illegal and immoral war against a country that didn’t attack us. The reason he can’t STFU – even though it would benefit him – is because he’s “sundowning”. It was funny in 2016 when he was tweeting on Cinco de Mayo about the taco salad at Trump Tower and saying “I love Hispanics”. Now he’s threatening to destroy an entire civilization. His mental decline will become more evident. Even Biden’s staff (who were really running the country) weren’t stupid enough to start a war with Iran.
“my greatest problem with him is he can’t conceal the bats randomly flying around in his empty belfry of his head”
“One seriously has to wonder what Trump’s top priority is.”
How do you know a thing?
By what it does.
With that said, the answer to the above question is easy to answer. He’s using the Office of the President to enrich himself, his family, and anyone that kisses his ass.
This is a subset of his limitless self-worship and self-aggrandizement. I wonder whether Don Jr., Eric and the Vampire Boy are being raised for transplant parts.
Off-topic – dated oil cargo ( basically physical delivery within days) sold in Singapore for $210 per barrel.
Mish, do you think that US oil companies will start prioritizing foreign oil markets instead of the US market to make more money?
There are still 2 million barrels per day of free oil export capacity in US ports meaning it is not a hypothetical issue.
It’s total BS. If he wants to build a first class ball room with his own money and the money of donors, that is something good, something pro American, something high class befitting of the USA. Damn commie Libs spend all of their time and energy protesting and conniving against everything pro American, that’s why the crooks are against everything single thing he does.
The USA has a white house and not a palace for a reason. We are not a monarchy nor do we bow to an individual. It’s a house for the people.
Thats why there are easter egg hunts on the grounds. Accessable by the people, not the rich & powerful.
Building a 15th century ballroom is a confirmation of a split nation between the haves and the have-nots. It defies much of the American identity that got us here.
Building an arch to block Arlington puts colonialism & expansion before those who degend the constitution.
Trump is as pro-American as Netenyahu.
Except construction has already started. If you look at pictures you can see a large portion of the old White House is already torn down and a big area of the grounds is excavated as part of the below surface portion.
So not sure what the point is of stopping this once it’s started because what’s currently there is a huge eyesore.
As I said, total BS
Haha, nice use of irony!
While I agree it BS, and way more than a ballroom, but also a safe space meeting grounds for visiting dignitaries and the like. There is no reason to delay except to goad Trump, and it works more often than not.
Once he gets it in his mind, he can’t seem to let go. I agree with his sentiment on the issue, and it’s taxpayer immune, so again it’s simply a chance to toss up a roadblock to get Trump lit up!
I will say it over and over, and that’s simply STFU. Stop concerning yourself with such trivial matters in the scheme of things. While important, it’s way down on the list that requires attention at this moment in time, by Our President!
Aww… Don’t cry boo-boo.
NP you mistakenly think Trump is doing this for others. Trump does things for himself, and only himself. But no more words wasted trying to convince you, as your eyes remain closed.
It may be donor money but it is government land he’s building the ballroom on. Why didn’t he build it at Mar-A-largo?
Oh come on, he’s not doing it for the benefit of the USA, it’s to put his damn monument to his bloated ego where it overshadows a nice historic building, he’s like a peeing dog that has to leave his foul scent on everything.
Oh you have much to learn young Jedi. #1 Not his own money. He doesn’t even give to his own charity. But he’s happy to take other people’s donations. #2 The donations to his ballroom are favors to be cashed in later by the givers for good or bad. #3 The giver’s donations are tax deductible and will not go to the workers of their companies. I’d rather see more in my paycheck than see it go for some political favors. I’m pro American worker, not pro aristocracy.
Mish, at this stage why is anyone surprised. Trump’s only interest is himself followed by his family’s interests.
The interest of the US comes last always.
Ironically, it’s an American issue of Safety, for top level meetings and events. We currently don’t have such a place like this. We have the WH for American Top Level Security, but this is quite different than that. It’s a place for everyone to be able to meet safe and securely, to discuss top level issues that require top level decisions and with Top Level Leaders across the Globe! This is no small development, and needed, and free to America, but should not be at the level of the President to discuss delays and issues imho.
To which I say – horsefeathers!
You forgot the interests of Israel.
I wonder if any of these ego projects won’tbe torn down.
Like statues and the like… I am sure whatever can, will be by the opposing party asap. This particular place however will be around for as long as the White House is Around. So let’s all hope that’s for a really, really long time!!
Ah, the Epstein memorial ballroom..
Just like all of Taco’s other private projects it’s gaudy and overdone. This is why so many of his big projects like hotels and casinos have gone belly up.
Elect a clown get a circus – you have my sympathy, USA.
Biden is no longer in the WH? We now have an Egomaniac in place of the brain dead, unable to speak and walk, clone of a human from the past. It’s got to be better than what we had! I am not saying by any stretch it’s perfect, but if people expect that, they are delusional to begin with. He can walk, talk, speak coherently, and has a clue on what’s going on around him. That’s miles ahead of where we were not all that long ago. We had a damn AutoPen running the WH, so yes this is better by a long shot! Not perfect but it never will be…
Problem is, Trump is lucid enough to act & do extreme damage – how many months/years is it going to take for the world to get back to any semblance of normality; a vegetable ( no offence Mr B ! ) would be a lot less harmful to the rest of us.
“When you put a clown in the palace, the clown does not become a king. Rather, the palace becomes a circus….”