US Republicans renewed efforts in Congress on Monday to approve and pay for President Donald Trump’s proposed ballroom at the White House, arguing it would help avoid security breaches.
Their bid comes immediately after the shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner.
The bill introduced by Republicans seeks $400 million (€341 million) for the construction and security infrastructure of the proposed ballroom.
While Trump previously claimed that private money would pay for it, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham said he believes private dollars should only pay for “buying china and stuff like that.” Graham is one of the three sponsors of the bill, which looks to construct the ballroom at taxpayers’ expense, dw.com reports.
Speaking at a news conference, Graham said while some thought of it as a “vanity project,” a ballroom in the White House was necessary to allow the president to hold events safely.
“I’ve never felt the sense of threat that exists today,” he said. Other lawmakers said they would push their own measures to approve the ballroom.
“It is an embarrassment to the strongest nation on earth that we cannot host gatherings in our nation’s capital, including ones attended by our president, without the threat of violence and attempted assassinations,” Sheehy posted on X.
Democrats have opposed Trump’s ballroom since he demolished part of the White House to make way for it without seeking Congress’ approval.
Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries told reporters that the president should be focused on ending the war with Iran, healthcare, and other measures to drive down the cost of living.
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer on Monday said Trump wanted to seclude himself in a “walled palace.”
“If Republicans truly want to improve security, they should join Democrats in funding the Secret Service, not Donald Trump’s luxury ballroom,” Schumer said.
Meanwhile, Trump told CBS that a suspect in the shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, who allegedly wrote an anti Christian manifesto, was psychologically unwell.
The suspect is set to face additional charges, US attorney Jeanine Pirro told reporters.
“There will be additional charges as this investigation continues to run forward,” Pirro said.
The defendant has already been charged with attempting to assassinate US President Donald Trump as well as two firearms charges.
“Make no mistake, this was an attempted assassination of the president of the United States with the defendant making clear what his intent was,” Pirro continued.
“And that intent was to bring down as many of the high-ranking cabinet officials as he could,” he added.
