WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said Saturday night’s shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner highlights the urgent need for a new White House ballroom, declaring the project “cannot be built fast enough” as he renewed his push for the controversial proposal.
The remarks came after a gunman, later identified as Cole Thomas Allen, 31, of Torrance, California, attempted to breach the event at the Washington Hilton, where Trump and senior officials were present. The suspect was apprehended, and a federal officer was injured but survived, officials said.
Trump Links Incident to Security Concerns
Following the incident, Trump criticized the Hilton as insufficiently secure and argued that hosting such events off White House grounds creates vulnerabilities.
In a post and subsequent comments, Trump said the attack would not have happened if the event had been held in a secure facility at the White House.
“This event would never have happened… It cannot be built fast enough,” Trump said, referring to the proposed ballroom.
He emphasized that the planned venue would include enhanced security features such as bulletproof glass and protections against drones, all within the perimeter of the White House complex.
The Ballroom Project
Trump has been pushing for the construction of a large, high-security ballroom on White House grounds — a project estimated to cost hundreds of millions of dollars and, according to him, funded by private donors and major corporations.
The proposed facility would be designed to host large-scale events currently held offsite, including the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, and would be significantly larger than existing event spaces on the grounds.
Plans call for a 90,000-square-foot structure replacing the temporary tents often used on the South Lawn. The design includes a 22,000-square-foot banquet hall capable of seating up to 1,000 guests, along with enhanced security features such as bulletproof glass and a glass-enclosed bridge connecting it to the main residence.
Reported donors include major technology companies such as Amazon, Apple, Meta, and Google, as well as individuals like Jeff Yass.
Trump has also said the ballroom would sit above a larger underground complex being constructed by the military. That portion, expected to include medical and security facilities, would be funded through federal appropriations.
Legal and Political Hurdles
The project has faced legal challenges and scrutiny over whether proper approvals were obtained.
- A federal judge previously halted parts of construction pending congressional authorization
- Preservation groups have raised concerns about the impact on the White House complex
- An appeals court has allowed some work to continue while the case proceeds
Despite those hurdles, Trump and his allies have framed the ballroom as a necessary modernization tied to national security.
Broader Reaction
The shooting has intensified debate around the project.
Some lawmakers — including critics of Trump — have acknowledged security concerns highlighted by the incident. Others argue the ballroom is unnecessary or improperly authorized, questioning both its scale and cost.
What Comes Next
The investigation into the shooting remains ongoing.
At the same time, the legal battle over the ballroom is expected to continue, with a key court hearing anticipated in the coming months.
Trump, however, appears unlikely to back down — positioning the project not just as a legacy item, but as a direct response to a preventable security failure.
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