Yesterday — on the first day of Donald Trump’s government shutdown — the White House confirmed it would forge ahead on Trump’s $200 million ballroom reconstruction — even as Trump guts funding for infrastructure and climate projects in states across the country and 22 million Americans face skyrocketing health care premiums. Instead of working with Democrats on a common sense plan to lower costs, protect health care, and reopen the government, Trump is prioritizing a gilded ballroom for himself and his billionaire donors. Trump spent years railing against so-called “wasteful” government spending — but when it comes to a $200 million ballroom for his own lavish parties, he spares no expense. Rather than extend critical health care subsidies or reverse his devastating Medicaid cuts, Trump is pouring millions of dollars into a ‘gold ballroom’ for himself and his wealthy donors. Just this morning, Trump called the shutdown an “unprecedented opportunity” to consolidate power and lay off thousands of federal workers.