Republicans now plan for taxpayers to fund Trumps $400 million ballroom which he promised to cover with private donation

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: The Independent

Monday 27 April 2026 23:27 EDT


In the wake of the shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, top Republicans want to use $400 million in taxpayer funds on President Donald Trump’s White House ballroom project, arguing the new building is vital for national security. This comes despite past promises from the president the ballroom would be entirely funded by private donations.

“It’s very difficult to have a bunch of important people in the same place unless it’s really, really secure,” Sen. Lindsey Graham told reporters on Monday. “The times in which we live are unusual. I’ve been up here for a while now. I’ve never felt the sense of threat that exists today.”

Graham and his GOP colleagues Sen. Eric Schmitt and Sen. Katie Britt are pushing a bill to fund the ballroom and offset costs by using customs and national parks user fees. The proposal includes building new military and Secret Service infrastructure within the ballroom complex.

Graham said the White House supports his effort, despite the president’s frequent claims that he and private donors were personally funding the entire ballroom project. The White House has previously said major tech corporations, including those that do business with the federal government and donated to Trump’s inauguration, have committed millions to funding the ballroom. The Independent has contacted the White House for comment.

Read more: https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/us-politics/taxpayer-fund-trump-ballroom-correspondents-dinner-shooting-b2966078.html

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Full headline: Republicans now plan for taxpayers to fund Trump’s $400 million ballroom which he promised to cover with private donations


What happened to the "all paid for by private donations"?

Why does the media keep giving anyone in this administration the benefit of the doubt? They do nothing but help to hasten the destruction of our democracy.

[Hugin]

1. The ball room...

Which I have taken to calling Scrote One, is the new wall grift. Next up is how the Iranians are going to pay for the Arch.

[GB_RN]

2. Ummm...

Yeah…No. Just. No.

[travelingthrulife]

12. He will have that place bugged to the hilt. No way it will be secure.

He works for Putin.

[Stargazer99]

3. Did not Trump say the rich would pay for

the ball room? Taxpayers how do you like being lied to? Suckers and losers!

[MissouriDem47]

4. Of Course

As many has predicted that was the plan all along. What is surprising is that anyone believed their lies from the start, that it would be done by donations.

[brer cat]

5. Since he always lies, we should have known it would

not be paid by donations. F$#k them! Kids are hungry, millions can't afford health coverage and apparently that is ok as long as the big baby gets a new play ground.

[walkingman]

6. "Important people"....not what I would call them. ☮

[chouchou]

8. I was thinking a batch of Low IQ Clowns...

[LeftInTX]

7. Trump's bawl room...not ballroom...cry baby

Say no to Trump's bawl room...

[BumRushDaShow]

14. Or "brawl room"

where periodically, they clear out the tables and chairs and setup a wrestling ring for live performances in a "smaller venue" than the "main tacky-ass one that is planned -

[Baitball Blogger]

9. First, there was the border wall that Mexico was going to pay for.

Then there was the fees to pass through the Strait of Hormuz that Iran was going to share with us.

Now the ballroom, that the American taxpayer is going to pay for.

I am sure there are others. This is the way the man thinks. And this is why right-wingers love him. He thinks big, talks big and when it all turns to shit, just blame the Democrats.

[twodogsbarking]

10. Epstein did not off himself.

[travelingthrulife]

11. This was the whole plan of that charade.

Now we're stuck with this waste of money. And given Republicans an excellent option to build a secure space riddled with bugs and cameras.

Putin loves his little boy.

[Bayard]

20. Exactly

This has to be planned by Miller. trump isn't smart enough. Not only has he been lying about his pet project ballroom, this just proves that the, "assassination attempt," was a charade, so rethuglicans would clamor for the all-expenses paid golden palace.

[Mr.Bee]

13. Sure YOU're Going To Pay For It!

and his renovation of the Kennedy Center
and his coating of the reflection pool,
and his Arch,

No money for government run healthcare,
No money for Social Security,
No money for Social Safety Net,
but millions for billionaires.
and stuff we never asked for,
that's important.

[patphil]

15. So where did the donations go?

I would say that, either the money donated to build the ballroom has been pocketed by Trump, or there weren't many donations coming in, and the ballroom lacked the funds to complete it.
So the republicans will take $400 million of taxpayer money to complete a project that is totally unnecessary, and should never have been started.
We have a hole where the East Wing used to be. How much would it take to terminate the project, do site cleanup, and restore the East Wing?

[YodaMom2]

21. The money that's already been "donated" for his stupid f*cking ballroom

will end up in the same place as the millions “donated” for his library - in some secret accounts in Qatar or the Caymans. He always intended to keep it for himself. And you can bet the price tag for this monstrosity has been hugely inflated so he can skim off millions from that, too.

[underpants]

26. I think you're exactly right.

[Solly Mack]

16. I don't want to pay to keep those self-styled important people safe. Look at everything they do to kill us

with deregulations, cuts to safety nets, lack of actual healthcare for all, killing off science and medical research, vaccines, and watchdog boards of all kinds. Nothing to help prevent gun violence except thoughts and prayers.

Fuck'em. Let them play by the same odds they expect us to play by.

[Martin68]

17. NO!

[Bengus81]

18. As usual...Trump grifts and WE pay. I am like so shocked

Funny...Trump has said over and over he already had enough to pay for the ballroom.

[OGBuzz]

24. He will pocket the donated money. There's only so much time left to...

make the Trump family dream come true.

Rep. Jamie Raskin noted in April 2026 that a Republican colleague was told by a Trump family member, "We are going to be the RICHEST FAMILY on earth when this administration is over".

[purr-rat beauty]

19. The Real Welfare Queens

Not a single soul signed off on the destruction of the White House and premises for this proposed monstrosity

Also give us the list of "donors" that supposedly motivated him. They deserve a reckoning.

Fuck ALL OF THEM

[littlemissmartypants]

22. Those donations are long gone. Time for another grift.

[sakabatou]

23. Repukes screwing the People?!

*pretends to be shocked*

[pansypoo53219]

25. keep digging. just magat voters in november should be pretty blue.

[underpants]

27. Ballroom seating capacity 999 - attendees at WHCD 2,600

The proposed ballroom couldn't have hosted this event.


The event attracted approximately 2,600 attendees, including senior administration officials

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_White_House_Correspondents%27_Dinner_shooting

AI Overview
As of April 2026, the proposed new White House State Ballroom is designed to hold 999 people for a seated dinner. Plans for this structure, which is replacing the East Wing, have increased in capacity from an initial 650 guests to 999, intended for large-scale events and potential inaugurations

[republianmushroom]

28. Damn, maybe better luck next time.