President Donald Trump revealed on Sunday, “The military is building a massive complex under the [White House] ballroom, which has come out recently because of a stupid lawsuit that was filed.”
“The ballroom essentially becomes a shed for what’s being built under [by] the military,” he said.
Trump emphasized the security features of the new construction: “We have all bulletproof glass. We have drone-proof roofs, ceilings. Everything is drone-proof and bulletproof, and unfortunately, we’re living in an age where that’s a good thing.”
Construction on the project has begun, and “we’re doing very well,” he said. “We’re ahead of schedule and under budget.”
Trump reminded reporters, “All of the money paid is paid by myself and donors. It’s all donors. There’s not one dime of government money going into the ballroom.”
Fox News reported:
The ballroom proposal was approved in February by the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts, which fast-tracked the roughly $400 million project following a unanimous vote of 6-0.The project will be built on the site of the former East Wing, which was demolished in October, and is expected to significantly expand the White House’s capacity for large events.Previous administrations have long relied on temporary structures to host major gatherings, as the old East Wing dining room had just a 200-seat capacity.Trump also described the ballroom as being designed to match the look and scale of the White House, including its height and architectural style, calling it a tribute to the historic building.
“I think it’ll be the greatest ballroom anywhere in the world,” he said, adding that “it pays total homage to the White House, which is, I think, very important.”
Not everyone welcomed the addition to the ballroom project. Some are expressing skepticism about the plans and calling for greater oversight.
Those afflicted with TDS responded with petty grievances:
And, as you might imagine, discourse devolved from there.
As with many high-profile projects tied to the White House, the ballroom — and now the claims surrounding what lies beneath it — have become a flashpoint for both political debate and online speculation. Supporters see it as a privately funded upgrade that modernizes the space and enhances security, while critics question the lack of detailed public information and oversight.
I see it as much ado about nothing. As Hillary Clinton once put it, in the grand scheme of things, “what difference does it make?”
Elizabeth writes commentary for Legal Insurrection and The Washington Examiner. She is an academy fellow at The Heritage Foundation. Please follow Elizabeth on X or LinkedIn.
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