US President Donald Trump has sparked speculation that he does not intend to leave the White House after showcasing plans for a lavish underground ballroom, which critics have labelled a bunker.
On Tuesday, May 19, Trump showed members of the media the progress on the construction, describing it as a shield that protects the White House. He said the structure, which will be about six storeys below ground, includes a military hospital and meeting rooms, and is designed to be drone-proof and missile-proof.
Democratic strategist Michelle Kinney wrote on X: "It's not a ballroom. It's a bunker. He's not leaving." Other social media users echoed the sentiment, with one saying: "Trump thinks he’s never leaving. He’s planning a bunker on U.S. tax payer money."
The project hit a snag after a Senate parliamentarian ruled that Republicans could not include a provision in a bill to move $1 billion in taxpayer money toward security upgrades for the ballroom. Trump has insisted the project is entirely donor-funded.
