David Axelrod, a former senior adviser to President Barack Obama, has issued a stark warning to the Republican Party, suggesting that Donald Trump's public preoccupation with high-end renovations and personal branding could become a significant liability in the upcoming 2022 midterm elections.
A 'Marie Antoinette' Problem for the GOP
Axelrod's comments came after the former president renewed his threat on Monday to sue Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell over what he called "gross incompetence" regarding renovations at the central bank. Axelrod criticized this focus, linking it to a pattern of behavior he believes distances Trump from the everyday concerns of voters.
"People are saying to themselves, 'What the hell does that have to do with me? I thought he was going to be fighting for me to bring my costs down?'" Axelrod said, summarizing what he perceives as public sentiment.
He pointed to two specific examples from this year: Trump teasing marble armrests at the newly Trump-branded Kennedy Center on social media and showing off a marbleized floor after renovations to the White House's Palm Room. "He seems obsessed with gold and putting his name on things and remodeling buildings and rebuilding monuments to himself," Axelrod stated.
A Pattern of Personal Grandeur
Axelrod declared that the former president has a "Marie Antoinette thing" unfolding, a reference to the famously out-of-touch French queen. "That is a big political problem and not for him ... but Republicans should be really concerned about what they're seeing," he cautioned.
This critique aligns with a long list of aesthetic and branding changes associated with Trump's tenure. Since the start of his presidency, notable alterations included:
- Redecorating the Oval Office with gold accents.
- Paving over the Rose Garden to create a patio.
- Demolishing the East Wing for a planned ballroom expected to bear his name.
- Installing massive flagpoles at the White House.
Furthermore, the Trump name has been applied to a wide array of entities, including the facade of the U.S. Institute of Peace building, a federal prescription drug website, an investment program, and a $1 million "gold card" immigration pathway. The announcement of a "Trump Class" of battleships and, in October, U.S. Treasury plans to mint a dual-sided Trump coin in 2026—a move that may be illegal—further exemplify this trend of personal branding.
Midterm Implications for Republicans
Axelrod's central argument is that this focus on opulence and self-aggrandizement creates a potent political narrative. As Americans grapple with economic pressures, he suggests that images of marble armrests and gold renovations frame Trump—and by extension, politicians aligned with him—as detached from the struggles of ordinary citizens.
While Trump is not on the ballot in 2022, Axelrod believes this perceived disconnect could energize opposition voters and suppress turnout among key parts of the Republican base, creating a major headwind for GOP candidates. The warning sets the stage for how Trump's post-presidency actions and public statements will be wielded as political weapons in the fierce battle for control of Congress next year.
