The National Trust for Historic Preservation is pressing forward with its legal challenge against the construction of President Donald Trump's $400 million White House ballroom, rebuffing pressure from the Justice Department to drop the case.
Justice Department Cites Shooting as Reason to Proceed
Trump's Justice Department urged the preservation group, which filed suit in December to halt the project, to dismiss its lawsuit by Monday morning. Assistant Attorney General Brett Shumate referenced the shooting at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner as justification for building the ballroom, describing the Washington Hilton, where the event was held, as "demonstrably unsafe" in a letter released Sunday.
Shumate argued that a ballroom at the White House "will ensure the safety and security of the President for decades to come and prevent future assassination attempts on the President at the Washington Hilton."
Trust Refuses to Back Down
Despite this pressure, the trust declared it would not withdraw its lawsuit. Carol Quillen, the trust's president, expressed gratitude that the president and gala guests were unharmed but added, "We are not planning to voluntarily dismiss our lawsuit, which endangers no one and which respectfully asks the Administration to follow the law."
Quillen further noted, "We have always acknowledged the utility of a larger meeting space at the White House. Building it lawfully requires the approval of Congress, which the Administration could seek at any time."
Political Figures Rally Behind Ballroom
In the aftermath of the shooting, Trump's Attorney General Todd Blanche and other MAGA loyalists have used the incident to advocate for the ballroom's construction. Trump himself posted on Truth Social, asserting that the shooting would not have occurred with the "Militarily Top Secret Ballroom currently under construction at the White House," which he claimed includes advanced security features and is situated within the secure White House grounds.
Republican Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan voiced full agreement with Trump, telling Fox News that the White House would "obviously be much safer location for these types of events." Democratic Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania urged Democrats to set aside "Trump Derangement Syndrome" and support the ballroom for security reasons, stating on social media that the Hilton venue was not designed to host events involving the U.S. line of succession.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt also promoted the project during her Monday briefing, emphasizing that it is not merely "a fun project" but "critical for our national security." She argued that a larger, secure building on the White House complex is needed to safely accommodate the president, vice president, and cabinet members, allowing the line of succession to gather without fear of threats or political violence.
Lawsuit Background
The National Trust for Historic Preservation filed its lawsuit last year after the Trump administration demolished the East Wing to make way for the new addition. Trump has claimed the $400 million project is fully funded by donors. The Independent has contacted the White House for comment.
