Senator Elizabeth Warren has sharply criticized President Donald Trump's decision to withhold his signature from a bipartisan housing package, calling his actions a "tantrum" and labeling him a "man-child." The Massachusetts Democrat voiced her frustration during a local television interview, urging the president directly to "Sign the damn bill."
Warren argued that Trump's refusal to sign the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act demonstrates a lack of concern for the economic well-being of American working families. The legislation, which has garnered bipartisan support, aims to address a nationwide housing emergency by lowering construction costs and facilitating the building of new homes. Warren highlighted that decades of under-building have contributed to rising housing prices, creating a need for millions of new housing units.
The expansive bill includes nearly 50 provisions and has a secondary focus on preventing corporate consolidation of the housing market. Warren explained that the legislation is designed to block private equity firms from purchasing local neighborhoods and prevent the U.S. from becoming a "nation of renters." She asserted that the bill was presented to the president with widespread backing from both parties, with lawmakers from both sides of the aisle taking credit for its development.
President Trump has previously stated that lawmakers must approve the unrelated SAVE America Act, a measure focused on voting, before he will consider signing the housing package. This stance has led to the stalled progress of the housing legislation.
Critics of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act have raised concerns that it does not allocate new federal funding, directly address rising homeownership costs, or sufficiently tackle permitting issues. The White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the senator's remarks or the stalled bill.