While Texas is in a state of political emergency and the national question of democracy is becoming sharper and sharper, Donald Trump strolls across the roof of the White House and inspects the place where his new ballroom is to be built. It is an image that could hardly be more symbolic of the division of the country, the simultaneity of power games and political ignorance - and the ease with which a president places his personal prestige projects above the crises of state life.
In Illinois, far from the Texas Capitol, the Democratic representatives from Texas who have left their home are gathering to block a vote on the redistricting desired by Trump. With this maneuver, the Republicans want to cement their dominance in the upcoming congressional elections and maximize Trump’s chances in the 2026 midterms. But the Democrats have barricaded themselves and are mobilizing: DNC Chairman Ken Martin said in Chicago that the party is “bringing a knife to a knife fight” and warned that Texas is a “test case for the whole country” and a “model for other red states to lie, to cheat, and to steal the win.” Illinois Governor JB Pritzker went even further. Trump’s move is “not democracy - that is not America.” He mocked the leadership in Texas as mere order-takers for the president: “When Donald Trump calls, they say: ‘Yes, sir, right away.’”
At the same time, scenes are playing out in Washington that magnify the absurdity of political everyday life under Trump like a burning glass. After a walk on the roof of the White House, where he casually exchanged a few words with reporters, Trump said he had just “stretched his legs a bit” - and on the other side of the building was “the new ballroom.” Only in July had the White House announced that construction of the 200 million dollar hall would begin in September. It is the first structural expansion of the presidential residence since the Truman Balcony in 1948. Alongside Trump, James McCrery, the architect of the project, was also seen on the roof. “Just another way to spend my money for this country,” Trump said with a smile. “Everything I do is financed by me.”
It is this contrast that so starkly divides America today: While some are defending their democracy with all their might, the president is inspecting his future ballroom.
Investigative journalism requires courage, conviction – and your support.
English 
German 
Er investiert in „seine“ Zukunft!
Da fehlen mir die Worte.
Er will seinen Alterssitz verschönern 🤮
Draußen leiden und hunger US-Amerikaner, er stolziert usher, wie ein Pfau.
Und hat dann noch einen Satz raus „Migranten sind von ihrer Natur her für Farmarbeit geboren“.
Welcome back to the slavery