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‘Their first instinct was to loot’: how Trump’s acolytes are plundering the Kennedy Center (www.theguardian.com)

submitted 1 month ago by HellsBelle@sh.itjust.works to c/news@lemmy.world

47 comments fedilink hide all child comments

“That’s the tactic they use,” said Sheldon Whitehouse, a Rhode Island senator, pondering whether Donald Trump might attach his name to the John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. “You float stuff and you float stuff and you float stuff until people get inured to what a stupid or outrageous thing it is that has been floated and then you pull the trigger.”

Whitehouse was sitting in his Senate office and speaking to the Guardian at 11am on Thursday 18 December. Two hours later, his words proved prophetic. Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, announced on X that the Kennedy Center board had “voted unanimously” to rename it the Trump-Kennedy Center.

In November Whitehouse, the top Democrat on the Senate environment and public works (EPW) committee, launched a formal investigation into allegations of widespread cronyism, financial mismanagement and corruption at what he describes as a “secular temple to the arts”.

Democrats on the committee said they obtained documents that suggest the national cultural centre is being operated as a “slush fund and private club for Trump’s friends and political allies”, resulting in millions of dollars in losses and a significant deviation from its statutory mission.

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[–] Corkyskog@sh.itjust.works 24 points 1 month ago (2 children)

I don't think the ballroom will actually be built. I think it's just another way to launder a bunch of money and it will all go into mysterious pockets and Trump will say the Democrats stopped him and no one needs to worry about the money anyway because it all came from private donations (AKA bribes to get government contracts).

[–] Kirp123@lemmy.world 12 points 1 month ago (2 children)

Yeah, the moment he said the ballroom will be funded from private donations you knew he just pocketed the money. He probably was aware that there will be a trial and the construction will be stopped while that is going on, so meanwhile the money got spent. Also I am curious if he loses the trial who foots the bill for rebuilding the West Wing? My bet is on the taxpayers.

[–] foodandart@lemmy.zip 9 points 1 month ago

The next Administration is going to have to claw back Trump property (I think they should just take it) to return that capital to the taxpayers.

[–] SocialMediaRefugee@lemmy.world 5 points 1 month ago

Pay for it with the $1 billion fine on trump from his corruption trials.

[–] SocialMediaRefugee@lemmy.world 6 points 1 month ago

Jackhammer the concrete on the rose garden and restore it. Strip the ballroom of anything of value and auction it off. Then put plywood over the windows and use it for a warehouse until it can be torn down and the east wing rebuilt. Put a tax on golf resorts to pay for it.