President Donald Trump, his MAGA allies, and even a Democratic senator have renewed calls for the construction of a $400 million White House ballroom following a shooting at the annual White House Correspondents' Dinner (WHCD) on Saturday evening. The incident, which sent the Cabinet and press corps scrambling for cover, has been seized upon as evidence that the controversial project is essential for security.
Trump's Response
In a Truth Social post on Sunday, Trump wrote: "What happened last night is exactly the reason that our great Military, Secret Service, Law Enforcement and, for different reasons, every President for the last 150 years, have been DEMANDING that a large, safe, and secure Ballroom be built ON THE GROUNDS OF THE WHITE HOUSE." He claimed the ballroom, which he described as "Militarily Top Secret," would have prevented the event and noted it is "inside the gates of the most secure building in the World, The White House."
The president has long advocated for the ballroom, which would replace the demolished East Wing. A federal judge halted the project earlier this month, though construction of a secure bunker was allowed to continue. Trump has often digressed into diatribes about the construction during unrelated events.
Political Support
Several Republican figures echoed Trump's sentiment, including Florida Rep. Randy Fine, Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry, Judicial Watch's Tom Fitton, influencer Chaya Raichik, and commentator Jack Posobiec. Conservative commentator Meghan McCain wrote: "I don't want to hear one more f***ing criticism of Trump's new ballroom at the White House."
More notably, Democratic Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, who attended the dinner and was escorted out after the shooting, urged Democrats to "drop the [Trump Derangement Syndrome]" and support the ballroom. He posted on X: "That venue wasn't built to accommodate an event with the line of succession for the U.S. government. After witnessing last night, drop the TDS and build the White House ballroom for events exactly like these." Fetterman has previously drawn criticism from fellow Democrats for backing Trump's war in Iran.
Security Concerns
Critics have also targeted the event's security, arguing it was insufficient for the large gathering. The Secret Service and other law enforcement agencies managed security, requiring guests to pass through metal detectors to enter the Washington Hilton's basement-level event spaces. Some attendees claimed they were not asked to show tickets, though The Independent reported being asked repeatedly at multiple checkpoints.
The ballroom project was announced in July 2025 with an initial cost of $200 million, funded through private donations. Costs later doubled to $400 million, and a nonprofit, the Trust for the National Mall, was established to funnel donations while allowing donor anonymity. Trump claims the project is fully funded, and demolition of the East Wing began in October. The shooting may revive the project, as the court order halting progress was based on the ruling that the project did not qualify as a necessary security measure to bypass congressional approval.
