The former president felt the heat from his chief conservative rival and across social media as his call to give FBI a “new and spectacular building” was viewed as “seeking to deepen the swamp.”
While it wasn’t a new position for former President Donald Trump, his outspoken support for rewarding the FBI with a brand new headquarters in the nation’s capital was readily criticized as contrary to supporters’ desires to reduce the size of the federal government.
After the role the agency has played in targeting parents and Christians, even raiding the president’s Florida home at Mar-a-Lago, he took to Truth Social Saturday to promote making them an integral part in cleaning up Washington, D.C.
“The FBI Headquarters should not be moved to a far away location, but should stay right where it is, in a new and spectacular building, in the best location in our now crime ridden and filthy dirty, graffiti scarred, Capital,” wrote Trump. “They should be involved in bringing back D.C., not running away from it, especially the violent crime. An important part of my platform for President is to bring back, restore, and rebuild Washington, D.C., into the ‘crown jewel’ of our Nation. We will make it crime free and GREAT AGAIN. The FBI should not be fleeing for safer, yet much less convenient, environs. It should make where they are now the safest place on earth! DON’T MOVE THE FBI!”
A supporter of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis contrasted the positions of the Republican presidential candidates by highlighting Trump’s post and contended, “There is nothing else that needs to be said. Trump simply doesn’t get it. Ron DeSantis does.
Adding to that message, the governor reacted, “Donald Trump failed to drain the swamp so perhaps it is not surprising that he is seeking to deepen the swamp by building a massive new FBI building in DC. Actually draining swamp requires taking power out of DC, not cementing power inside DC.”
Donald Trump failed to drain the swamp so perhaps it is not surprising that he is seeking to deepen the swamp by building a massive new FBI building in DC.
Actually draining swamp requires taking power out of DC, not cementing power inside DC. https://t.co/Hu136bU5MI
— Ron DeSantis (@RonDeSantis) December 30, 2023
He further criticized the president’s stance during a town hall in Manchester, New Hampshire where he had been joined by Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie (R).
“No! That’s part of the problem with the FBI. They’ve become overrun with D.C. politics — you need to take it out of D.C. Take power out of there — that’s how you drain the swamp,” DeSantis remarked before later adding, “I’m taking power out of D.C. You’re going to have a reduction in the size of government, but also in the scope of government.”
DESANTIS on Trump calling for the FBI to have a “new and spectacular” headquarters in DC:
“NO! That’s part of the problem with the FBI. They’ve become overrun with DC politics — you need to take it out of DC. That’s how you drain the swamp.” pic.twitter.com/xMlRqBfq86
— DeSantis War Room (@DeSantisWarRoom) December 30, 2023
Others endeavored to point out that Trump’s effort to see the FBI receive a new building at the J. Edgar Hoover site was a position he held from the onset of his administration, for which lawmakers had voiced concern over the president’s own “financial interest” through his real estate enterprise.
To that end, the findings of an investigation reported in October found FBI Director Christopher Wray, whom Trump blamed former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) for recommending, “did not feel ‘pressured or bullied or browbeaten’ or ‘pushed’ by Trump in making the decision to recommend that FBI Headquarters remain at the JEH site. Wray told us that his decision to recommend staying in the current location was not based on anything that Trump said or wanted.”
“We found no evidence that the FBI’s decision to seek to have its Headquarters remain in its current location was based on improper considerations or motives,” wrote Justice Department Inspector General Michael Horowitz.
Still, the most vocal among the president’s supporters had vehemently opposed the FBI getting a new D.C. headquarters, a point highlighted with November remarks from Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz (R) from the House floor.
Matt Gaetz: If you build the FBI a new headquarters, you are condoning and enabling their nefarious behavior.
Donald Trump: F that noise, build the FBI a new and spectacular building!
Trump’s ability to cut his supporters off at the knees is truly incredible pic.twitter.com/SSSh4Or1Nj
— Unfiltered☢Boss (@Unfilteredboss1) December 30, 2023
As others spoke out against the move and suspected it would be regarded as a wise decision from the president’s camp, commentator Mary Katherine Ham suggested, “Woo, grab some ice, [because] people are gonna absolutely pull hammies twisting themselves in knots to explain why this is awesome and what MAGA and Drain the Swamp actually means and stuff.”
Woo, grab some ice, bc people are gonna absolutely pull hammies twisting themselves in knots to explain why this is awesome and what MAGA and Drain the Swamp actually means and stuff. pic.twitter.com/eYc4obktmU
— Mary Katharine Ham (@mkhammer) December 31, 2023
*FBI raids Mar A Lago with CNN in tow.
Trump – “You know what you guys need? A great big new beautiful building and my full fledged support!”
— Stephen L. Miller (@redsteeze) December 30, 2023
So… he’s rewarding the Russian collusion hoaxers? We went thru hell supporting him over this. #DeSantis2024
— Spirit Lead Me ️ (@spiritleadme777) December 30, 2023
Trump tried to get Jared Kushner’s partner‘t the contract to build a new FBI Headquarters in DC back in 2018! pic.twitter.com/wUOjsR1oUa
— Truthful_guysGal (@TruthfulguyGuy) December 30, 2023
No you need to dismantle it entirely.
— Trisha Hope – “The J6 Congressional Report Card” (@JustTheTweets17) December 30, 2023
Native of Brooklyn, NY, Kevin Haggerty is a graduate of Hunter College where he studied Cultural Anthropology and Geography. An avid reader and truth seeker, he currently resides in Texas with his wife and their dog and, when he isn't researching current events and their impacts, you'll find him spending time with friends and family or working on his next novel.
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