[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 103 (Thursday, June 18, 2026)]
[Senate]
[Page S2925]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                          Trump Administration

  Mr. SCHATZ. Mr. President, $600 million to build a ballroom at the 
White House, $100 million to build a triumphal arch, $250 million to 
renovate the Kennedy Center, $60 million to host a UFC fight on the 
south lawn of the White House--these are the things Donald Trump is 
putting his time and energy into right now, along with a whole lot of 
taxpayer money.
  Meanwhile, gas is more than 4 bucks a gallon nationally and $5.58 in 
Hawaii, grocery prices keep going up, electricity bills are through the 
roof, millions of Americans don't have health insurance at all this 
year, and rents and mortgages are almost impossible to keep up with.
  This is not a question of whether you like sports or monuments. I 
like sports. I like UFC. I think the Capital City of the most powerful 
Nation in the history of the world should be beautiful and modern and 
vibrant. But that is not the point. This is a President who is so 
thoroughly distracted with his own personal pet projects that he has no 
time to do anything to lower prices and fix people's actual problems. 
It is not that these are events that have overtaken his agenda--this is 
his agenda. These are his initiatives that he came up with that he is 
excited about.
  It is plainly obvious that Donald Trump is distracted with things 
that have nothing to do with regular people's lives, but you don't have 
to take my word for it. Last week, after inflation reached the highest 
level in 3 years, he said:

       I love the inflation.

  After a few weeks, as a war of his own making was ravaging people's 
paychecks, he said:

       I don't think about Americans' financial situation.

  ``I don't think about Americans' financial situation.''
  This is not making a partisan accusation; those are his words.
  People all across the country are eating less and driving less and 
saving less and seeing the doctor less because of his actions--wars, 
tariffs, tax cuts for billionaires paid for by cutting working people's 
healthcare--and yet all he can think about is where his next military 
adventure might be or what new monument he can build for himself.
  It is not hard to imagine a focused and energetic President who 
exerts their authority to make people's lives better, easier, more 
affordable, more fulfilling. And in the past, even when we didn't agree 
with the President from the other party on solutions, at least we 
agreed on the problems; at least we agreed on what a Presidency was 
for--but not this President.
  The problem was never that the Kennedy Center was too woke. The 
problem was never that gas was too cheap. No one woke up thinking 
``Gee, I wish we were involved in more wars'' or ``Man, I really ought 
to be throwing bigger parties for the President's 80th birthday.'' No 
one asked for this. I want to be clear. No one asked for this--not the 
people who elected Donald Trump the second time, not the people who 
voted against Donald Trump the second time. No one asked for this. No 
one wants this. But we do have a President who is at the end of his 
political career, and with nothing to lose electorally, all he can 
think about is himself and his legacy--not you.
  I yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The bill clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mrs. BRITT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mrs. BRITT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
previously scheduled rollcall vote begin immediately.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.