Durbin Slams Trump’s $1 Billion Ballroom And Nearly $2 Billion Slush Fund For January 6 Insurrectionists & Trump Allies

Durbin Slams Trump's $1 Billion Ballroom And Nearly $2 Billion Slush Fund For January 6 Insurrectionists & Trump Allies

Durbin: "The President is making sure that those who fought to undermine a free and fair election and those who attacked this Capitol building cash in-not the hardworking families of America who are struggling mightily to get by."

WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, criticized the Trump Administration and congressional Republicans for prioritizing a partisan reconciliation bill that will cost $70 billion in taxpayer dollars for President Trump's cruel mass deportation campaign while Americans across the country are struggling to afford groceries or fill their gas tank. Durbin began his remarks by calling out President Trump for attempting to fund his White House ballroom with taxpayer dollars in this partisan bill. Over the weekend, the Senate parliamentarian rejected this ballroom proposal as it is currently written.

"This weekend, the Senate parliamentarian ruled that funding for President Trump's personal pet-project-his gold-plated ballroom-as currently written cannot be included in the Republicans' partisan budget reconciliation bill before the Senate. To that I say: thank heavens. I distinctly recall the President promising the American people that this ballroom would cost them nothing. How quickly he retreated on his word and asked taxpayers to cough up $1 billion for it-another broken promise," Durbin said.

Durbin continued, "This ruling by the parliamentarian, in response to a challenge brought by Senate Democrats, is a win for the American people across the country. But don't kid yourself-Senate Republicans are already back to the drawing board… attempting to revise the provision so it can be included in the reconciliation bill. Americans continue to struggle with high prices at the grocery store and the gas station. [But] Republicans have shown where their priorities lie-appeasing the President and writing him a blank check for a new ballroom and the mass deportation campaign."

Durbin then pointed toward the rising price of groceries, gas, and utilities in Illinois. Rather than championing policies to fight inflation and bring down costs for Americans, President Trump continues to pursue his war of choice in Iran and his mass deportation campaign of immigrants with no criminal history.

"President Trump's war of choice in Iran, as well as his continued tariffs, are squeezing American families hard in housing, groceries, and fuel costs and utility bills. Inflation has surged to 3.8 percent, the highest level since the pandemic, and it is outpacing wage growth," Durbin said. "In Illinois, drivers are paying more than $5 a gallon for gas… Illinois electricity bills are up by more than 15 percent on President Trump's watch. And grocery prices had the biggest one-month jump in nearly four years. Fresh vegetables are 44 percent more expensive than they were just three months ago."

Durbin then shared how these Trump Administration policies are hurting his constituents in Illinois, including Reverend Dr. Anthony Paulson.

"I recently heard from a constituent of mine from Southern Illinois, Reverend Dr. Anthony Paulson. He wrote about the cost-of-living issues. Reverend Paulson told me that, as a pastor, he witnesses the impact rising costs on his family, friends, and neighbors. Residents come to his church seeking help with the cost of food, housing, and gas to meet their basic needs. The Reverend says he offers the church's compassion and support for anyone in need, but the church and the people he serves have been stretched thin thanks to these across-the-board price hikes we have under the Trump Administration," Durbin said.

Durbin continued, "[President Trump], here's what he said and I quote, he doesn't think about Americans' financial hardships 'even a little bit.' He continued, 'I don't think about Americans' financial situation. I don't think about anybody. Tell that to Reverend Paulson, Mr. President. Tell him that you don't care about his concerns or the concerns of the people he serves."

Durbin then slammed the Trump Administration's misuse of taxpayer dollars to line the pockets of January 6 insurrectionists and Trump's political allies through a nearly $2 billion Department of Justice slush fund.

"I will also note that, just yesterday, the President's politicized Department of Justice settled [Trump's] $10 billion lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service," Durbin said. "What did the President get because of that settlement? A so-called 'Anti-Weaponization Fund' of nearly $1.8 billion dollars. And what will this money from the taxpayers be used for? The Administration says it is for 'victims of lawfare and weaponization.' … Lawyers for January 6 insurrectionists who Trump pardoned have already said they are going to apply for compensation… Forget that working people are paying more for gas, and that they still haven't seen a dime in refunds for Trump's illegal tariffs that pushed up prices for groceries, and clothes, and appliances."

Durbin concluded, "The President is making sure that those who fought to undermine a free and fair election and those who attacked this Capitol building cash in-not the hardworking families of America who are struggling mightily to get by. That should tell you all you need to know about what the President's priorities are. Democrats will fight this unprecedented and unacceptable slush fund. And, this week, we will continue to push back on Republicans' partisan reconciliation bill and billion-dollar ballroom emergency bill every step of the way. We will work to halt the flow of taxpayer dollars to Trump's ballroom, his arches, and his mass deportation campaign, and when this bill comes to the floor later this week, Republicans will get to go on the record exactly what their priorities are going to be moving forward. Will our Republican colleagues support our efforts to drive down these family costs? Or will they side with President Trump?"

Video of Durbin's remarks on the Senate floor is available here.

Audio of Durbin's remarks on the Senate floor is available here.

Footage of Durbin's remarks on the Senate floor is available here for TV Stations.

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