Published: 19 May 2026 | Updated: 19 May 2026
Source: White House Press Pool, Department of Justice, New York Times/Siena College, Reuters/Ipsos, Pew Research Center, Washington Post, NBC News, CBS News

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump’s Trump ballroom fixation was on full display Tuesday as he took reporters on an unscheduled tour of the White House ballroom construction project — a deeply unpopular renovation he initially promised would be privately funded but now reportedly seeks taxpayer money to complete. The tour came hours before Trump endorsed Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton over sitting Republican Sen. John Cornyn in next week’s primary runoff, and 24 hours after his Department of Justice created a $1.776 billion fund to compensate political allies with taxpayer money. A New York Times/Siena College poll published Monday showed Democrats leading by double digits on the generic ballot with less than six months until the 2026 midterm elections. Trump’s approval rating sits at 37%.

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What Happened

Over a 72-hour period beginning Sunday, Trump made a series of moves that deepened Republican concerns about the party’s midterm prospects:

• Monday: The Department of Justice announced a $1.776 billion “anti-weaponization” fund to compensate Trump allies who claim unfair targeting by previous administrations. The fund, administered by a five-member commission that Trump appoints and can fire, processes claims until December 2028.
• Tuesday morning: Trump’s Trump ballroom fixation continued as he took reporters on an unscheduled tour of the White House ballroom construction, a project polling shows is 2-to-1 unpopular and is reportedly seeking taxpayer funding after initially promising the renovation would be privately financed.
• Tuesday evening: Trump endorsed Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in next week’s Republican primary runoff against Sen. John Cornyn, defying the institutional GOP’s concerns about Paxton’s general election electability.
• Sunday: Trump told reporters he does not “think about Americans’ financial situation” when making decisions about the Iran war, which roughly two-thirds of Americans opposed before it began.

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The $1.776 Billion Compensation Fund

The Department of Justice fund, formally called the “anti-weaponization” fund, will compensate individuals who claim they were unfairly targeted by previous administrations. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, who previously served on Trump’s personal defence team, announced the fund on Monday.

Trump cannot receive payments under the settlement terms. Potential beneficiaries include former national security adviser Michael Flynn, who received over $1 million in a separate DOJ settlement in March; former Trump adviser Roger Stone, whose commuted sentence Americans opposed 2-to-1 in a 2020 NBC News poll; and January 6 defendants, whom majorities of Americans opposed pardoning, according to 2025 surveys by the Pew Research Center and Washington Post.

MyPillow founder Mike Lindell told CNN he expects compensation from the fund.

A Reuters/Ipsos poll in April 2026 found Americans disapproved of Trump’s handling of corruption by a 2-to-1 margin (59% to 29%). Other polling shows six in ten Americans believe Trump uses the presidency to enrich himself and his allies.

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The Paxton Endorsement

Trump’s endorsement of Paxton over Cornyn in the Texas Senate primary runoff is the latest loyalty test for Republican lawmakers. Cornyn is a former Senate majority whip and institutional party figure. Paxton has faced securities fraud indictments and an FBI investigation during his tenure as state attorney general.

The endorsement forces every Republican senator to absorb the same political signal: loyalty to Trump is the primary requirement for political survival. The general election risk of potentially losing a Senate seat in Texas, which the GOP considers safe, is a cost Trump has shown willingness to impose on his party.

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The Ballroom and the Iran War

The White House ballroom renovation has become a recurring feature of Trump’s public appearances despite polling indicating the project is deeply unpopular. Trump initially stated the project would be entirely privately funded. He is now reportedly seeking taxpayer money, though the Senate has signalled resistance.

The president’s comment about not considering Americans’ financial situation when making war decisions came as the Iran conflict continues to pressure global energy markets. Brent crude trades at approximately 111perbarrel, up from 111perbarrel, up from 73 before the 28 February airstrikes. UK petrol reached a wartime high of 158.52 pence per litre on Tuesday.

The war was opposed by roughly two-thirds of Americans before Trump launched it, according to pre-conflict polling. It remains the Republican Party’s largest electoral liability heading into the midterms.

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Polls Show

The New York Times/Siena College poll published 19 May 2026 found:

• Democrats lead by double digits on the generic congressional ballot.
• Trump’s job approval rating stands at 37%
• 64% of voters believe the Iran war was the wrong decision

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Related Coverage

• How Trump’s midterm strategy is reshaping the Republican Party’s electoral calculus
• The $1.776 billion fund shows how Trump’s compensation mechanism reshapes DOJ independence.
• Trump’s endorsement strategy and the Republican civil war in Texas

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Written by the Washington Bureau, drawing on White House press pool reports, Department of Justice announcements, New York Times/Siena College polling, Reuters/Ipsos data, Pew Research Center and Washington Post surveys, and NBC News and CBS News polling archives. The bureau has covered presidential politics and midterm elections for over two decades.