Topline
Lawmakers and members of the Trump administration are ramping up a push for the president’s White House ballroom after a shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on Saturday, with some saying its construction is now crucial to national security.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., is one of multiple Republicans pushing for the ballroom.
Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images
Key Facts
The shooting, which took place at the Washington Hilton, resulted in non-life-threatening injuries for a Secret Service agent and the arrest of a suspect, who reportedly mocked security measures at the event in a manifesto.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters Monday afternoon that the White House ballroom is “not just a fun project,” but is “actually critical for our national security.”
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said in a tweet Sunday the ballroom was “a national security necessity” that would provide Secret Service “immense control over the security environment of future events with a very hardened facility.”
Graham said Sunday he would introduce legislation Monday to “authorize and appropriate money to fully fund the White House presidential ballroom,” pushing for the measure after a federal judge said this month President Donald Trump would need congressional approval for his ballroom—though a court recently ruled construction can continue while the ruling is appealed.
When Rep. Pat Fallon, R-Texas, was asked by Fox News if he had a recommendation for how to improve security measures at high-profile events like the White House Correspondents’ dinner, the congressman said “the White House Ballroom is a great argument,” saying the security at the ballroom would not have to worry about “hotel guests checking in with weapons.”
Surprising Fact
Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., said in a tweet Sunday security at the Washington Hilton “wasn’t built to accommodate an event with the line of succession for the U.S. government,” urging lawmakers to “drop the [Trump derangement syndrome] and build the White House ballroom for events exactly like these.”
Who Else Has Come Out In Support Of The Ballroom?
Republican Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry said Saturday’s shooting was “yet another reason” to construct the White House ballroom. Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, told Fox News he agreed with Trump “100%” on the construction of the ballroom and that it “obviously would be [a] much safer location for these type of events.” Brett Shumate, an assistant attorney general for the Justice Department’s civil division, said in a letter the ballroom would “prevent future assassination attempts on the president.”
Key Background
Trump said the shooting was “exactly the reason” the ballroom should be built and that it never would have happened if the Correspondents’ Dinner were held at the building. Trump claimed the ballroom will have “every highest level security feature there is plus, there are no rooms sitting on top for unsecured people to pour in.” The ballroom will be outfitted with large bulletproof windows and have a bunker below it, one that Trump has described as a “massive complex.” The president also said the $400 million ballroom is “substantially ahead of schedule” and blasted a legal challenge to its construction. The project is moving forward after a judge placed an injunction against above-ground construction and said below-ground construction could continue. After a DOJ appeal was filed, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit issued an administrative stay allowing construction to continue until at least June while the case plays out in court.
Further Reading
Trump Reignites White House Ballroom Push After Shooting At Correspondents’ Dinner (Forbes)
Suspect Reportedly Mocked Security Measures Before White House Correspondents’ Dinner Shooting (Forbes)