Trump’s Wasteful Spending on Things like the Ballroom Concerns Americans

Despite promises to immediately lower costs for Americans, President Trump has spent an enormous amount of time and resources on White House renovations and self-aggrandizing projects. Two-in-three Americans oppose Trump tearing down the East Wing of the White House and requesting $1 billion in taxpayer dollars for a new White House ballroom (66%). Even among Republicans, the ballroom is divisive, with 42% supporting Trump’s actions and 42% opposing – though non-MAGA Republicans oppose it by 29 points (28% support – 57% oppose). 

Trump’s unveiling of a golden statue of himself at his golf club in Florida (61% concerned), his face being included on special edition passports and the new $250 bill (60% concerned), and awarding a no-competition contract to a favored company to repaint the Reflecting Pool in Washington (58% concerned), all garner similar levels of concern from Americans.

Seven-in-10 Americans say Trump’s face being included on special edition passports and the new $250 bill shows he’s focused on the wrong things, including 54% who say it shows he’s “mostly” focused on the wrong things. Similarly, majorities also point to Trump’s unveiling of a golden statue of himself at his golf course and staging a UFC fight at the White House as proof-points of Trump being focused on the wrong things (67% and 66%, respectively). 

Americans Continue to Disapprove of Trump by Double Digits

It’s not just these actions that are unpopular. A majority of Americans disapprove of President Trump’s handling of the presidency (58%). 61% disapprove of his handling of the economy specifically, including over one-in-three non-MAGA Republicans (36%). Of Americans who voted for Trump in the 2024 election, around one-in-five continue to regret their vote (18%), citing war, prices, and the economy as reasons driving their regret.

• Americans want the president and Congress to prioritize inflation and the cost of living (58%), jobs and the economy (46%), and healthcare (39%) – but see Trump and Republicans in Congress as most focused on immigration (63%) and foreign conflicts (49%).

Most Concerning Messages on Trump’s Actions Focus on Corruption and Hurting American Families

When asked to select the three recent Trump actions they find most concerning, respondents ranked Trump’s Justice Department proposing a $1.776 billion fund to compensate those who have been unfairly “targeted” tops the list (47% top three most concerning), followed closely by the construction of the new White House ballroom (46%). 

Americans believe the most concerning messages when it comes to Trump’s recent actions are:

• Trump is wasting taxpayer dollars on things that don’t matter (24% – including 26% of Republicans)

• Trump is making bad decisions that hurt American families (24%)

• Trump is corrupt and enriching himself, his family, and his donors (24%)

• Trump only cares about himself (21%)