Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez lashed out at President Donald Trump’s planned $400 million White House ballroom Monday, calling the project “insulting” to working Americans after the Supreme Court cleared the way for construction to continue.
The New York Democrat argued that Americans are struggling with health care and other expenses while money is instead being directed toward the president’s ballroom project.
“You have everyday Americans, working-class Americans, they’re not getting a refund on the tariffs that they were illegally charged,” the congresswoman from New York sounded off during a gaggle with press in Washington, D.C. “Their health care subsidies have run out, so small businesses and everyday Americans are paying more for health care and their prescriptions than they ever have.”
Ocasio-Cortez went on to argue that available funds should be used to provide financial relief to Americans rather than for the White House project.
“And we are sitting on money to be able to help everyday Americans, and instead the President is using it on his ballroom. And so I could not think of something more insensitive and insulting to everyday working people than this choice of an expenditure.”
Her criticism came just hours after the Supreme Court, in a 5-4 ruling, allowed work on the ballroom to proceed, finding that the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which filed suit seeking to halt the project, likely lacked standing to pursue its challenge in federal court.
Chief Justice John Roberts sided with Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson in dissent. Roberts argued that the project was “likely unlawful” because Congress had not authorized it.
“Today’s decision is no victory for the separation of powers,” Roberts wrote on Monday.
Trump, meanwhile, hailed the Supreme Court decision in a Truth Social post Monday afternoon, celebrating the ruling as a major victory for the project.
“I am pleased to report that the United States Supreme Court has just ruled in favor of the Ballroom/Military Complex being built without any further contingency, doubt or threat. We are living in the Golden Age of America, and this Building will be one of the Greatest ever constructed in Washington, D.C.”
The president said the ballroom and military complex is scheduled to be finished in the summer of 2028 and emphasized that private donors, rather than taxpayers, are financing the project.
“When completed in the Summer of 2028, the magnificent Ballroom and Military Complex will be something that the entire Country is very proud of,” he continued. “The Project, despite the baseless lawsuit brought by the so-called National Trust for Historic Preservation of the United States, which is not in any way affiliated with the United States Government, is under budget and ahead of schedule. The Ballroom is totally funded by Great Patriots and Corporations and, therefore, is a Gift — At no cost to the American Taxpayer. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”
