Trump Ballroom Leading Us Down the Path to Being a Banana Republic
Posted for: Rotorblade
On Friday, during an appearance on CNN’s The Source, political commentator Van Jones criticized President Donald Trump’s decision to remove part of the White House to build a new ballroom without undergoing standard reviews, saying it was taking the country down a “banana republic” path.
Discussing The National Trust for Historic Preservation’s lawsuit challenging the construction, Jones said, “This unitary executive fixation basically says the president can do whatever the president wants. And it’s not just Congress passing bills—you’re talking about laws passed by Congress and signed by presidents that require certain procedures. We have a lawless president and a Supreme Court that’s enabling him.”
Jones continued, “What we often hear from our Republican friends is, ‘I like the outcome, so the process doesn’t matter.’ That’s how authoritarian countries operate. In a democracy, the process matters. Rules matter. Democracy is built on the rule of law. If you want to make America great, you have to remember how America became great: through rule of law, free markets, and opportunity for all who follow the rules. If the executive branch can act without limits, we’re on the path to becoming a banana republic. Maybe people will like this golden ballroom and golden toilets—I don’t know—but if it’s really that great, why not follow the rules?”
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