Richardson appeared on Leigh McGowan’s “Politics Girl” podcast and said she’s had enough of seeing the administration claim there’s no money for programs that help regular people while still finding funds for projects that seem to praise Donald Trump.
She said, “The thing that really gets to me is how he uses our tax dollars however he wants.”
She pointed out the administration’s efforts to change Washington landmarks, like gilding horse statues near the Lincoln Memorial and work around the Reflecting Pool.
“I’m all for keeping our public spaces nice,” she admitted.
“I wish we had enough money to do that everywhere.”
What made her really upset was where the money came from.
Funds and fees meant for national parks and public safety projects were being redirected to Trump’s beautification projects, she said.
“The fact that he has taken the money, taxpayer money and fees from our national parks, where that money had been set aside for things like putting up guardrails over cliffs, and used it on the Reflecting Pool, on gilding the horses,” she said.
She then linked this to the cuts Americans are already experiencing.
“We cut people’s SNAP benefits so kids don’t go hungry this summer,” she reminded McGowan’s audience.
“We’re cutting Medicaid so people don’t have health care.And he’s gilding horses, horse statues.”
“And that’s my tax dollars.”
She also mentioned reports that more than $300 million in taxpayer money had already been spent on Trump’s planned White House ballroom, even though earlier promises said taxpayers wouldn’t pay for it.
As a respected History professor, once she got worked up, she really started speaking like a taxpayer.
She can’t stand watching essential programs like food assistance and health care get cut, being told there’s no money for regular people, and then seeing the administration find money for projects with Trump’s name all over them.
As Richardson put it, even many Trump supporters might have a hard time explaining that.
After all, it’s one thing to tell a family there’s no money left for their food assistance.
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