White House Correspondents' Dinner shooting sharpens focus on Trump’s ballroom construction proposal
The shooting outside the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on Saturday evening has thrust fresh attention on President Donald Trump’s push to build a secure ballroom at the White House, a...
By Fox News · Fox News
The shooting outside the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on Saturday evening has thrust fresh attention on President Donald Trump ’s push to build a secure ballroom at the White House, a proposal he says could prevent such threats. A gunman armed with multiple weapons opened fire near a security checkpoint at the Washington Hilton — where hundreds of journalists, celebrities and government officials were attending the annual White House Correspondents’ Dinner. A Secret Service agent was struck but protected by a ballistic vest, and the suspect was quickly taken into custody, authorities said. Trump told reporters at the White House that he spoke with the agent, adding that he is expected to recover. SECRET SERVICE IN LINE OF FIRE AT WHCD SHOOTING STILL UNPAID DUE TO DEM-LED SHUTDOWN Trump pointed to the incident as evidence that the hotel venue was "not a particularly secure building," arguing that a new White House ballroom — equipped with features like bulletproof materials — would offer a safer alternative. But the proposal faces hurdles. The project has been slowed by legal challenges over whether the administration bypassed required approvals, with courts weighing the scope of presidential authority as the case moves forward. SPRAWLING NEW $250M WHITE HOUSE BALLROOM TO BE PAID FOR BY TRUMP AND DONORS The planned 90,000-square-foot ballroom has become a political flashpoint , with critics raising concerns about cost and preservation, while Trump and his allies frame it as a largely privately financed security upgrade. While the White House has hosted countless ceremonial events, it has never had a dedicated ballroom. The new structure would fill that gap, replacing the historic East Wing with a space built to accommodate large-scale gatherings. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the ballroom would seat roughly 650 guests and reflect the building’s classical design. "The White House is currently unable to host major functions honoring world lea…