President Donald Trump has claimed that the shooting at the Washington Hilton hotel during the White House Correspondents' Association dinner demonstrates the need for a controversial $400 million ballroom at the White House. The incident, in which an armed attacker was arrested as he rushed towards the Hilton ballroom, forced Trump and senior officials to be evacuated and hundreds of guests to take cover.
In a social media post on Sunday, Trump wrote that the shooting 'would never have happened with the Militarily Top Secret Ballroom currently under construction at the White House.' He described the planned ballroom as 'larger' and 'much more secure' than the Hilton venue, with features including 'drone-proof' and 'bulletproof glass.' The project began last October with the demolition of the East Wing, without full legal permission, and has faced legal challenges and funding controversies.
Trump made similar remarks during a press briefing late Saturday after returning to the White House. He said he did not want to raise the issue but argued that the event 'is why we have to have all of the attributes of what we’re planning at the White House.' The president noted that the Hilton ballroom has 'rooms sitting on top for unsecured people to pour in,' a risk he said would be avoided at the White House facility.
The shooting was the latest security scare for Trump, who has survived two previous assassination attempts during his 2024 campaign. At the briefing, he said the incident 'would not affect the conduct of his life' and that he was 'not a basket case,' though he acknowledged it was 'very unexpected.' He praised the coverage from journalists and expressed gratitude to the White House Correspondents' Association president, Weijia Jiang.
Trump also described his reaction to the noise, initially thinking it was a falling tray. He said his wife Melania 'knew immediately what happened' and found it 'a rather traumatic experience.' The president had been expected to deliver a humorous but critical speech at the dinner, which was cut short due to the shooting.
