Republican lawmakers are rallying behind President Donald Trump's proposal to construct a ballroom at the White House, following a shooting at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner on Saturday night. The incident has been used by the administration as a fresh argument for the project's necessity.
Senator Sheehy's legislative push
Sen. Tim Sheehy, a freshman Republican from Montana, announced on Sunday that he will seek unanimous consent this week for a resolution expressing support for the creation of a secure ballroom in the East Wing of the White House. "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 stated.
The president has prioritised the $400 million structure, despite public disapproval. Polling from last year indicated that Americans were unhappy with the demolition of the East Wing required for its construction. However, after the shooting at the Washington Hilton, where a gunman opened fire during the dinner, Trump and his team have framed the ballroom as a national security imperative.
Sheehy's statement on security
Sheehy echoed the administration's stance, saying, "A President of any party should be able to host events in a secure area without attendees worrying about their safety. This is common sense. Let's get it done."
Other Republican supporters
Sheehy is not alone in his backing. Rep. Chip Roy of Texas, a member of the House Freedom Caucus, declared he would demand funding for the ballroom in any major spending package related to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). "Any consideration of DHS reconciliation instructions this week & beyond should provide for construction of a secure ballroom on White House grounds – in addition to other concerns being addressed regarding ICE/CBP, SAVE America, Transgender & Abortion funding, Recon 3, & more," Roy posted on social media.
The House plans to pass a bill funding the Department of Homeland Security, excluding ICE and Customs and Border Protection (CBP). A second bill would fund those agencies through budget reconciliation, allowing Republicans to bypass a filibuster. Roy's faction also seeks to ban taxpayer funding for gender-affirming care and abortions.
Trump's social media response
Trump took to Truth Social shortly after the shooting to advocate for the ballroom. "This event would never have happened with the Militarily Top Secret Ballroom currently under construction at the White House. It cannot be built fast enough! While beautiful, it has every highest level security feature there is plus, there are no rooms sitting on top for unsecured people to pour in, and is inside the gates of the most secure building in the World, The White House," he wrote.
The shooting and suspect
The shooting occurred during Trump's first appearance at the White House Correspondents' Dinner since assuming office. Police apprehended the suspect, 31-year-old Cole Allen, who is scheduled to be arraigned on Monday.
John Bowden contributed to this report.
