In any administration, personal loyalty is an indispensable political asset. But for the President of the United States, the one thing demanded above all else is not competence, but absolute adoration. This requirement is encapsulated in the mantra: “Kiss the ring, praise the King, and always tell the dear leader he’s doing a fantastic job.” However, the question remains whether the President affords that same loyalty to those who serve him. The answer, as history has proven and a recent shock firing confirmed, is a resounding no.

The sudden dismissal of one of the President’s top advisers shed astonishing light on the shocking misplacement of priorities in the White House. While the nation confronts grave crises—from alleged war crimes and soaring inflation to mass deportations—the President’s mind was fixated on one thing only: his ballroom. This firing is not just a personnel change; it is a stunning statement about the President valuing his ego and personal projects over national security and economic stability.

Vain Loyalty: The Architect Fired Over the Ballroom

The incident that shocked the public, reported by the Washington Post, was the President’s replacement of the architect in charge of the massive $300 million White House ballroom construction project. Architect James McCreary III, who was previously handpicked by the President himself, was replaced for not “seeing eye to eye” with the President’s vision for the project.

The contention revolved entirely around the size of the ballroom. The proposed design had estimated dimensions of 90,000 square feet, nearly double the size of the entire White House itself (which is only 55,000 square feet). While the nation is grappling with real issues, the U.S. President was 100% focused, “like a laser,” on this trivial detail. He was upset that the ballroom wasn’t big enough.

This is both incredible and infuriating. The President has not fired anyone over:

Soaring inflation and rising prices, hitting 2008 economic crisis levels.

Mass deportations that are “ravaging communities.”

Serious war crime allegations.

The shipping of American citizens to foreign torture prisons.

The only person to lose their job was the architect who dared to suggest that the ballroom could not be built that large. This action reveals not only a dangerous lack of focus but a shocking contempt for the real problems affecting the lives of millions of Americans. It is an unacceptable dereliction of duty, where an individual’s vanity is prioritized over the responsibilities of a head of state.

The War Crime Catastrophe: The Defense Secretary’s Lie

The firing of the architect becomes even more ludicrous when contrasted with the most severe scandal engulfing the administration: alleged war crimes tied to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The incident stems from a missile attack in the Caribbean.

The Washington Post reported that after a small, suspected drug boat was hit by a first missile, caught fire, and capsized, a second missile strike was executed. This second strike allegedly killed two people who were clinging to the wreckage—individuals who were entirely out of the fight and incapable of conducting hostilities.

If this information is accurate, it is not merely “murder” outside of a war zone, but a grave violation of the Laws of Armed Conflict. According to regulations, once an individual is placed out of any ability to conduct hostilities (a non-combatant) and cannot attack you, you cannot kill that individual. Targeting shipwrecked, distressed individuals without any means of survival is a profoundly unethical and illegal act.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s initial reaction only compounded the problem. When confronted with the Washington Post report, Hegseth publicly lied, dismissing all information as “fake news,” “fabricated, inflammatory, and derogatory reporting.” However, within days, Hegseth had to change his story multiple times, tacitly admitting that his initial denial was false.

The incident was compared by commentators to historical atrocities like the My Lai massacre in the Vietnam War, where the U.S. military also initially lied and called the operation a “resounding success.” History has taught that in cases of military misconduct, “the lying doesn’t stop immediately.” The precedent of military cover-ups has caused current officials to earn exactly zero credibility for any defense they offer.

Congressman Jim Himes, a member of the Intelligence Committee, expressed profound distress after viewing the video of the incident. He confirmed that the two individuals were killed while clinging to the wreckage, “without any visible means of survival or support.” According to Himes, there was no evidence they could have been picked up to resume drug trafficking or carry out hostile acts, thus, “there’s just no way to get away from the fact that the United States killed two individuals who were shipwrecked and in massive distress.”

An “Unserious” and “Undisciplined” Administration

The Defense Secretary’s scandal is merely the tip of a larger iceberg: the entire current administration is characterized as “unserious,” “unfocused,” “undisciplined,” and even “unpatriotic” toward the American people.

Examples of incompetence and disregard for national security are abundant. Just days prior, The Atlantic published an article detailing how top officials, including Pete Hegseth, used the encrypted messaging app Signal to exchange war plans and sensitive information. After the article was published, Senator JD Vance, instead of showing concern about the massive security leak, publicly posted in that same chat, making a sarcastic joke: “Hey, what’s everyone up to, kind of dead in here.”

This behavior, described as “being an a**hole” and making light of officials putting service members in harm’s way, demonstrates an unacceptable lack of professionalism and discipline. These individuals are characterized as “uncaring” and “unfeeling” toward all Americans.

Meanwhile, other administration members are mired in their own scandals, such as Pam Bondi allegedly blocking the release of Epstein files, or other officials using military jets for personal travel. All are signs of an apparatus dominated by “unserious people” who are completely disconnected from the real challenges facing the nation.

Misplaced Priorities: Firing the Architect Amidst a Crisis Storm

The contrast between the real crises and the President’s obsession is the most egregious element. While his mind is consumed with building a luxurious room nearly double the size of the White House, national issues are neglected:

Economy: Inflation and skyrocketing prices threaten the affordability crisis for average Americans.

Society: Mass deportation policies are dividing and ravaging communities.

Environment: Data centers are driving up electricity costs for citizens to enrich billionaires.

National Security: War crime allegations and the shipping of U.S. citizens to foreign torture prisons are tarnishing the nation’s honor.

There has been no outrage, no firings related to these issues. No fist has been banged on the table demanding that someone be held accountable for the economic crisis or the deaths of shipwrecked victims. Instead, “it’s the ballroom.”

The conclusion of this story is a painful reminder: the loyalty the President demands is not to strengthen the administration or serve the nation, but to fuel his personal ego. And when that loyalty is misplaced, the only person who pays the price is not the one committing war crimes or creating economic crises, but the one who dares to say the room cannot be bigger. This incident reaffirms a familiar theme: while we are always disgusted, we are never surprised.