'Let them eat cake': Trump’s enemies seize on new liability to tank midterms message

President Donald Trump takes questions from media at a press briefing, in Washington, D.C., April 25, 2026. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst/File Photo

President Donald Trump has once again latched onto a demand that is poised to turn into a major liability for himself and the GOP, and according to The Hill, Democrats are ready to pounce and use it to tank the party's midterms affordability messaging.

Since the latest assassination attempt against him at the White House Correspondents' Dinner last weekend, Trump has renewed the push for his lavish and expensive White House ballroom, claiming that it is necessary to provide better security for him at future events. Numerous Republican lawmakers and commentators have joined in on this new push, having previously soured slightly on the idea.

Trump and his administration are now demanding $400 million from Congress to further fund the construction of the ballroom. In response, The Hill on Thursday reported that "Democrats are hitting the White House over the optics" of the situation, "saying it’s out of touch with most Americans struggling with affordability, as the state of the economy remains the biggest issue on voters' minds."

Rep. Sarah McBride, a Delaware Democrat, trashed the talk of funding the ballroom while her own constituents "can’t afford f——ing grocery bills or utility bills," specifically taking issue with staunch Trump loyalist Sen. Lindsey Graham's call for the $400 million to be earmarked by Congress.

Speaking with MS NOW, Sen. Corey Booker of New Jersey lambasted Trump and his allies for exploiting "a painful, awful attack” as “a pretext for a corrupt endeavor."

"The parameters could give Democrats yet another opening to slam Republicans over affordability as they already find themselves fending off attacks over rising energy prices ahead of the midterms," The Hill explained.

Various Democratic strategists also told the outlet that the ballroom demands could turn into a watershed issue for Democrats to use against the GOP for the midterms.

“It’s very much so a let them eat cake moment,” strategist Matt Corridoni said.

"Trump just threw a fastball over the middle of the plate that Democrats can blast out of the park," strategist Brad Bannon added. "Voters feel a real sense of betrayal right now because Donald Trump promised to lower costs and not start anymore failed forever wars. Instead what he’s doing is invading Iran and building ballrooms."

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