During an appearance on MSNBC’s The Weeknight Friday, Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) accused President Donald Trump of abusing executive power through his proposed White House ballroom renovation, calling the privately funded project “a wrecking ball to our democracy.”
Responding to co-host Alicia Menendez, who raised concerns about potential “pay to play” arrangements, Klobuchar criticized the project for bypassing normal congressional funding processes and involving significant private contributions.
“There is a reason that we have Congress fund things,” Klobuchar said. “And you do not have private companies coming in to this extent and paying for whatever vanity project a president wants.”
Klobuchar expressed concern that private donors funding a White House construction project could gain undue political influence or access. She also suggested the project mirrors broader patterns of alleged favoritism and political interference under Trump’s administration.
She cited actions such as pardoning George Santos, replacing career prosecutors with political appointees, and interfering in Justice Department decisions regarding figures like James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James.
Klobuchar also referenced recent remarks by Trump adviser Steve Bannon regarding presidential term limits. “The Constitution full stop says no, you cannot serve more than two terms as president,” she said. “They’re going to mess around with that.”
The ballroom plan has drawn criticism from multiple Democrats, including Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), and Ed Markey (D-MA), who argue it raises ethical and constitutional concerns over executive authority, private influence, and congressional oversight.
