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World
US President Donald Trump said that the shooting incident that occurred during the White House Correspondents' Association dinner on Saturday evening highlights the need to establish a ballroom inside the White House — a project that has been facing legal battles for months.
Trump described the venue at the Washington Hilton Hotel as "not a highly secure building," adding "we need a ballroom," noting that the proposed project would include advanced security features, including bulletproof glass and anti-drone systems, according to the Washington Post.
It remains unclear whether the White House Correspondents' dinner will be held in the new ballroom if it is built, as the event is a private occasion and not a government function — but this has not prevented conservative officials from exploiting the incident to push for the project's implementation, estimated to cost about $400 million.
Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry posted on X: "Unfortunately, the First Lady of the state and I had to be evacuated from the dinner along with the President and the entire Cabinet. This incident is an additional reason to build Trump Hall."
Republican Congressman from Florida Randy Fine wrote: "We don't want to hear any more objections to a ballroom at the White House."
Several conservative commentators, including Meghan McCain, Tom Fitton, and Nick Adams, also joined the calls to build the hall, to enhance the security of presidents and their guests.
Last month, Federal Judge Richard Leon ruled that the project cannot proceed without Congressional approval, with a limited exception for measures "strictly necessary to ensure White House security."
The proposed project covers approximately 90,000 square feet — roughly the size of the entire White House complex — and will accommodate approximately 1,000 guests, to be entirely funded by private donations, as Trump stated.
Trump described the project as a "great legacy," drawing inspiration from the design of the Palace of Versailles and his own Mar-a-Lago resort.
