Wertheimer Political Report, September 10, 2026
DEMOCRACY 21 NEWS
President Donald Trump is wrecking the nation’s capital.
Trump is attempting to remake Washington into a massive monument to himself. As he told New York Magazine about reconstructing Washington to serve as his personal monument, “Nobody will do it once I’m gone. When I leave here, nobody will.”
Trump is treating Washington as if he owns the property.
In his narcissistic, tasteless, and often illegal approach to “projects,” Trump has screwed up the Reflecting Pool; destroyed former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy’s Rose Garden; pushed to close the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts for renovations after a federal judge prevented him from adding his name to the Center; torn down the East Wing of the White House; and on and on it goes.
Trump is also pushing to remake the century-old East Potomac Golf Links, Washington’s busiest public golf course, raising serious concerns that an affordable course built for public recreation will become all but inaccessible to ordinary Washingtonians.
Perhaps his biggest desecration, however, is the so-called 250-foot “Triumphal Arch.” Trump, in response to a question about who this Arch is for, proudly said, “Me.”
The Trump Arch is a monstrosity and an intrusion on sacred grounds – on the historic setting of Arlington National Cemetery and the John F. Kennedy gravesite. A National Park Service assessment found that the Arch would obstruct sightlines from the Kennedy gravesite and alter views across the Memorial Avenue corridor.
A lawsuit against the Arch was brought by three Vietnam War veterans and an architectural historian, who argue that the Arch would desecrate Arlington National Cemetery and that it requires congressional approval.
The administration has announced plans to begin site work even though the project has not received congressional approval. Trump has also not sought approval for the Arch or anything else as he treats the city of Washington as his personal property. The judge in the Arch case instructed the Trump administration that it must give 48 hours’ notice to the court in advance of any work starting, giving the court the opportunity to consider an injunction before construction begins.
The Washington Post reports that “Veterans and Democrats are escalating efforts to prevent construction on President Donald Trump’s planned arch as the anticipated start of site work approaches, arguing the project is illegal and would diminish the experience of visiting nearby Arlington National Cemetery.” Opponents also warn that the construction could interfere with military funerals at Arlington.
To put it in simple terms, Trump is desecrating the nation’s capital for his own megalomania and self-indulgent pleasure. In addition to Trump’s monuments to himself, he is plastering or proposing to plaster his name and/or face on everything he can think of – federal buildings, banners on federal buildings, passports, commemorative gold coins, government websites, proposed “Trump-class” battleships, National Park passes, Trump Accounts, Trump Gold Cards, and proposed future US currency.
A Washington Post-Ipsos poll found that 65 percent of Americans were upset or dissatisfied with Trump’s construction projects.
Trump is obviously obsessed with his “projects,” especially the ballroom, apparently at the expense of anything else. New York Times reporter Maggie Haberman told Axios that “70 percent of President Trump’s mindshare” (“maybe plus or minus 5%”) goes to his gilding, construction, renovation, renaming and tribute projects.”
“He is spending a huge amount of energy, mental and otherwise, on these renovation projects, beautification projects around Washington, and then monuments to self, …[T]here is no precedent in U.S. history of a sitting president devising such endeavors in their own name.”
A new, non-Trump-oriented administration will have a great deal of work to do to correct the extraordinary damage Trump has done to the country and the interests of the American people.
However, in the spirit of Ronald Reagan’s “Tear down this wall,” a new administration should start quickly by tearing down the Trump monuments to himself and remove Trump’s name and image from everything it can.
It is important to restore the nation’s capital to the historic and rightful place it held before a narcissistic, authoritarian, corrupt president tore Washington apart.
Here is a list of the places where Trump’s name and/or face have been plastered.
Here is a list of Trump’s vanity projects and the estimated costs.
President, Democracy 21
TRUMPWATCH 2.0
Trump Wants to Give Out $5,000 Checks. It Would Cost More Than $1 Trillion.
“The president’s idea to hand every American adult a “dividend” if Republicans keep control of Congress in the midterm elections raises questions.” — New York Times
Capitol agenda: ‘Trump dividend’ wins instant GOP critics.
“Trump pledged to send $5,000 to every adult in the U.S. if Republicans retain control of Congress in the midterms.” — Politico
Appeals court rejects ICE detention policy, setting stage for SCOTUS.
“The 4th Circuit Court of Appeals compared ICE’s policy to Japanese internment.” — Politico
Denver Sues to Block Armed ICE Agents at Voting Sites.
“The City of Denver and civil rights groups argued that sightings of ICE agents at polling places are having a chilling effect.” — New York Times
AI could kill all humans in next decade, warn experts: but how seriously should we take them?
“Alarming warnings from industry insiders increase pressure for curbs on artificial superintelligence.” — The Guardian
Supreme Court blocks Missouri’s attempt to use newly drawn Republican congressional map.
“Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins had sought to use the new Republican map despite the Missouri Supreme Court saying that he is barred from doing so.” – NBC News
NYC Mayor Mamdani releases thousands of long-sought city documents on 9/11 air quality.
“‘People got sick because the leaders they trusted lied,’ the mayor said.” — ABC News
Holder blasts Blanche over planned GOP convention speech: “Disgraceful.”
“Former Attorney General Eric Holder on Tuesday slammed the sitting Department of Justice (DOJ) chief over his decision to address attendees at the Republican National Committee’s (RNC) first midterm convention in Dallas, which kicks off Wednesday.” — The Hill
Associated Press will stick with Lake Ontario over Trump’s renamed “Lake America.”
“The Associated Press will continue to refer to Lake Ontario by its original name, despite President Trump’s push to rename the body of water ‘Lake America.'” — The Hill
Americans Throw Cold Water On Trump’s Great Lake Lark: Poll.
“His executive order renaming Lake Ontario to ‘Lake America’ to spite Canada received support from a piddling 14% of Americans surveyed for a Reuters/Ipsos poll released on Tuesday.” — HuffPost
New evidence suggests White House took steps to punish Colorado over Tina Peters case.
“‘I’ve never seen anything like it,’ a federal district court judge said about a newly disclosed email. ‘I’ve never even imagined something like it.'” — MS Now
Appeals Court Hands Trump A Loss On Mail Voting
“The panel’s decision comes even as the Supreme Court is already considering the same case.” — HuffPost
In case you missed these, here are a few pieces from last month
The turbulent AI era is here. The choices we make now are critical.
“The transition to the AI era will be one of the most turbulent times in human history. Right now, we are not preparing adequately for that transition. If the world takes the right steps, AI will be a force for good and leave everyone better off.” — Gates Notes
Protecting Judges from Rising Threats.
“Federal judges and their families are facing extraordinary pressures. Improved security can ensure that they remain safe and that judicial independence remains uncompromised.” — Brennan Center
Military leaders warn Hegseth against extending Iran war operations.
“A recent classified assessment advised that prolonged large-scale operations in the Middle East risk weakening U.S. capabilities elsewhere.” — Washington Post
Millions of Dollars in Secret Spending Could Upend the 2026 Midterms.
“At least $1 billion from anonymous donors is flowing into the midterm elections. Dark money is not new, but it now permeates nearly every major contest.” — New York Times
NC’s 2026 US Senate race could be the most expensive in history, experts say.
“Political experts say North Carolina’s Senate race next year could see around $500 million in campaign spending, and the contest between former Gov. Roy Cooper and Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley could set a new record for the most expensive Senate race in the country.” — WUNC News
MEANWHILE, ON CAPITOL HILL
Congress Needs a Select Committee That Focuses on Trump Family Corruption. — Just Secuity
Dems plot to take on Hegseth if they win in November. Lawmakers are already discussing plans for hearings, inquiries and other oversight into the Defense Department if control of Congress flips. — Politico
Census overhaul proposed by Trump administration could reshape Congress Proposed rule would exclude many immigrants from counts. — Roll Call
MONEY IN POLITICS, VOTING, ELECTION & OTHER RELATED INFO
Meet the Megadonors Who Have Poured $1.2 Billion Into the Midterms. The leaderboard of the top 20 donors is dominated by the tech industry and ultrawealthy Republicans. — New York Times
Americans have the highest level of distrust in their government in two decades, voicing bipartisan frustration with the country’s institutions and the people who run them. — Washington Post
Bari Weiss Faces Backlash After Linking Muslim Senate Candidate to 9/11. Insiders say the newsroom’s new editor-in-chief personally reworked coverage of Abdul El-Sayed’s deleted tweets, reigniting scrutiny of her tenure atop the network. — Hollywood Reporter
The GEO Group has profited from the administration’s mass deportation campaign. A subsidiary donated more than $1.4 million to the president’s super PAC last month. — New York Times
