Donald Trump repeatedly claimed the proposed White House ballroom would be privately funded, but after citing heightened security concerns following the correspondents’ dinner shooting, Republicans are now backing a funding proposal that could leave taxpayers covering a $1 billion price tag.
On May 4, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, unveiled a long-term border and immigration funding bill that includes $1 billion for security upgrades tied to the White House ballroom project. The funds would reportedly go toward enhanced Secret Service protections and new above- and below-ground security features around the White House complex.
The proposal comes after months of Trump insisting the massive White House ballroom would be fully funded by private donors.
“And by the way, no government funds,” Trump told reporters last November.
“These are all private individuals that put up a lot of money to build the ballroom,” he added. “Not one penny is being used from the federal government.”
CNN even put together a video montage highlighting the many times Donald Trump insisted the ballroom would be privately funded.
But with new security upgrades now tied to the project, the 90,000-square-foot ballroom he once claimed would cost taxpayers nothing could ultimately carry a $1 billion public price tag. The provision is tucked into a Republican-led reconciliation bill that GOP leaders—and Trump—are pushing as a major priority this year.
Supporters of the new funding argue that the ballroom project now requires extensive security upgrades following heightened concerns sparked by the shooting connected to the White House Correspondents’ Dinner last month. Lawmakers backing the proposal say the added security measures—including enhanced Secret Service protections, reinforced perimeter defenses, and underground infrastructure upgrades—are necessary to protect the White House complex as construction expands.
Still, the situation has fueled growing skepticism online and among critics, many of whom are questioning how such a major security breach could have happened in the first place. Others argue the incident is now being used to justify a massive taxpayer-funded security package tied to a project Trump repeatedly claimed would be privately financed. The lack of clear answers surrounding the shooting and concerns over inadequate security protocols have only intensified public scrutiny around the entire ballroom project.
Senate Democrats are already gearing up to challenge the $1 billion measure and plan to force a vote later this month to try removing it from the bill before it reaches the Senate floor. Critics say the new funding proposal raises serious questions about whether Americans were misled when Trump repeatedly claimed the ballroom project would come at no cost to taxpayers.
“This has been a bait and switch: promising it would be privately funded and now, apparently, taxpayers will be on the hook for it,” said Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del.
“This is tragically another example of President Trump promising one thing and doing another — of saying he was going to do something great for the American people and instead demolishing the historic East Wing without any serious consultation or public input. And now we discover the total cost is going to be well more than $1 billion.”
“And I’ve had no briefing that gives me any insight into what could possibly cost $1 billion extra dollars,” Coons added.
A federal appeals court is set to hear arguments next month over a ruling that blocked the Donald Trump administration from moving forward with construction without congressional approval. Until the court issues a decision—likely no earlier than mid-June—construction on the project will continue.
RELATED: Push to Oust Gov. Jeff Landry Gains Steam as Recall Petition Hits Louisiana
