{"id":1955,"date":"2026-05-19T22:40:45","date_gmt":"2026-05-19T22:40:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usglobalnews.com\/2026\/05\/19\/trump-leads-media-tour-of-ballroom-building-site-as-congress-balks-at-1bn-price-tag\/"},"modified":"2026-05-19T22:40:45","modified_gmt":"2026-05-19T22:40:45","slug":"trump-leads-media-tour-of-ballroom-building-site-as-congress-balks-at-1bn-price-tag","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/?p=1955","title":{"rendered":"Trump leads media tour of ballroom building site as Congress balks at $1bn price tag"},"content":{"rendered":"<div style=\"border-color:var(--article-border);background-color:var(--article-inner-background)\" class=\"dcr-wqti5a\">\n<div class=\"dcr-2zxs1v\">\n<div style=\"--grid-area:media\" data-gu-name=\"media\" class=\"dcr-1fnjjtg\">\n<div class=\"dcr-14emo0l\">\n<div class=\"dcr-tr9ye5\">\n<figure id=\"42f4c4bf-a11b-4dca-a021-0e461a0465cb\" class=\"dcr-142siv7\">\n<div id=\"img-1\" class=\"dcr-1t8m8f2\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Donald Trump gestures toward construction site while speaking to media and cameras at an outdoor event\" src=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/media\/ca95c3cc5a69d4da0fcd3bc35f0069391438ec89\/0_0_7713_5144\/master\/7713.jpg?width=465&amp;dpr=1&amp;s=none&amp;crop=none\" width=\"465\" height=\"310.12057565149746\" loading=\"eager\" class=\"dcr-evn1e9\"><span class=\"dcr-v822l1\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-gup2gr\">\n<div class=\"dcr-fntg6k\"><label for=\"the-checkbox\" class=\"dcr-1xgwz8b\"><\/label> <\/p>\n<div id=\"the-caption\"><figcaption data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-1os51wo\"><span class=\"dcr-hvsf4t\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1qvd3m6\">Donald Trump speaks to the media at the White House ballroom construction site, on 19 May 2026 in Washington DC.<\/span> Photograph: Chip Somodevilla\/Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><a href=\"#img-1\" data-ignore=\"global-link-styling\" class=\"open-lightbox dcr-13fd1ms\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><button data-element-id=\"42f4c4bf-a11b-4dca-a021-0e461a0465cb\" type=\"button\" class=\"open-lightbox dcr-4tmywn\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\"><span class=\"dcr-194i6pr\">View image in fullscreen<\/span><\/button><\/a><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"dcr-n4pnam\"><figcaption data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-1hdkqum\"><span class=\"dcr-hvsf4t\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1qvd3m6\">Donald Trump speaks to the media at the White House ballroom construction site, on 19 May 2026 in Washington DC.<\/span> Photograph: Chip Somodevilla\/Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/span><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"--grid-area:border\" data-gu-name=\"border\" class=\"dcr-1fnjjtg\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"--grid-area:headline\" data-gu-name=\"headline\" class=\"dcr-1fnjjtg\">\n<div class=\"dcr-14emo0l\">\n<div class=\"dcr-1aqe7zu\">\n<h1 class=\"dcr-1k1a1x\">Trump leads media tour of ballroom building site as Congress balks at $1bn price tag<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"--grid-area:standfirst\" data-gu-name=\"standfirst\" class=\"dcr-1fnjjtg\">\n<div class=\"dcr-15in7js\">\n<p>President says $400m building costs to be funded by private donors, but has asked for taxpayers to cover security costs<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"--grid-area:body\" data-gu-name=\"body\" class=\"dcr-kn9unn\">\n<div class=\"dcr-1a4fred\">\n<div id=\"maincontent\" class=\"dcr-ydnaza\">\n<div class=\"article-body-commercial-selector article-body-viewer-selector dcr-1c9t5u6\">\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Shouting over the banging and clanging sounds from heavy construction equipment, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/donaldtrump\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">Donald Trump<\/a> on Tuesday gave a group of reporters a closer look at the construction for the White House ballroom he\u2019s building on the site of the former East Wing to mount a defense of the project that has hit a speed bump in Congress.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">The administration has asked for $1bn from taxpayers for security additions on the White House campus, including for the ballroom. But the Senate parliamentarian ruled the proposal could not be included in a bill to fund immigrant enforcement agencies for three years, and several Republican lawmakers have balked at the price tag in an election year where voters are grappling with gasoline, grocery and other prices spurred to new heights by the Iran war and the disruption in oil supplies.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">So Trump surprised White House reporters by bringing them to a platform overlooking the construction site on a hot and breezy morning as workers in hard hats and fluorescent yellow vests milled below.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Easels had been set up to display renderings of the ballroom building and at least one of them blew off in the wind. \u201cGive that to me, I\u2019ll hold it,\u201d Trump told an assistant.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">\u201cThere will never be another building like this built, that I can tell you,\u201d Trump told reporters.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">He highlighted the security aspects of the building, notably its \u201cdead flat\u201d roof made of \u201cvery strong steel\u201d and said it would be \u201cdrone-proof\u201d because \u201cif a drone hits it, it bounces off, it won\u2019t have any impact \u2013 but it\u2019s also meant as a drone port, so it protects all of Washington, the roof of the building\u201d.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">He said the military would \u201cstay on it\u201d to keep watch over the city.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">There would be no air conditioning or other equipment on the roof for safety reasons, Trump said, explaining that all duct work and equipment like it would be hidden within the walls of the complex, which would serve as a \u201cshield\u201d for a military hospital, research facilities, offices for the first lady and her staff, and a full-service kitchen \u2013 in addition to a ballroom big enough for 1,000 people.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">He said the ballroom building would go six stories underground and was really \u201ccomplex\u201d because \u201ceverything is intertwined\u201d.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">\u201cThe roof goes with the ground floor, the ground floor goes with the roof. The roof also goes down into the basement,\u201d the president said. \u201cThis is one well-knit building. One thing doesn\u2019t work without the other.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"trump-calls-the-ballroom-a-gift-to-the-country\" class=\"dcr-12ibh7f\">Trump calls the ballroom a \u2018gift\u2019 to the country<\/h2>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Trump repeated that the $400m ballroom cost would be covered by donors, including him, and that the work was being done \u201cin strict coordination\u201d with the military and US Secret Service.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"74dd339b-d3c6-4f87-8a74-eaf14831a7c6\" data-spacefinder-role=\"richLink\" data-spacefinder-type=\"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement\" class=\"dcr-47fhrn\">\n<div data-print-layout=\"hide\" data-link-name=\"rich-link-12 | 12\" data-component=\"rich-link\" data-name=\"placeholder\" class=\"dcr-1kyw41h\">\n<div data-format-theme=\"5\" data-format-design=\"0\" data-format-display=\"0\" class=\"dcr-1bg5532\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2026\/may\/19\/trump-irs-settlement-tax-returns\" class=\"dcr-1m887w9\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-ut4tvs\">\n<div class=\"dcr-1h5b6rb\">\n<div class=\"dcr-169d7yv\">US justice department \u2018forever\u2019 bars IRS from auditing Trump\u2019s past tax returns<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"dcr-eurq8n\">\n<div class=\"dcr-fkf7vq\">Read more<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">\u201cThis is not going to be paid for by the taxpayer,\u201d Trump said. \u201cThis is a gift to the United States of America.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">But it\u2019s somewhat of an unwanted present, as polling shows most Americans oppose the ballroom, which is embroiled in litigation in federal court. A Washington Post\/ABC News\/Ipsos poll conducted in April found that a majority, 56%, of US adults oppose Trump\u2019s decision to tear down the east wing to make way for the ballroom, while only 28% are in support.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">The National Trust for Historic Preservation sued to halt construction until Congress approves plans for the building.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Trump insisted he would have \u201cvery little\u201d time to use the ballroom. He recently announced that it would be ready in September 2028, less than six months before his term ends.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">\u201cThis is really for other presidents,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Trump sidestepped a question about whether he would kick in any more of his own money if Congress rejects the $1bn funding request.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-print-layout=\"hide\" class=\"dcr-qxqnsy\"><span class=\"dcr-1rq3vad\">Explore more on these topics<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-1dzx48f\">\n<ul class=\"dcr-1rrvs2w\">\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/us-news\/donaldtrump\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">Donald Trump<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/us-news\/us-congress\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">US Congress<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/us-news\/us-senate\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">US Senate<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/us-news\/us-politics\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">US politics<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/tone\/news\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">news<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"dcr-nu129i\"><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Trump%20leads%20media%20tour%20of%20ballroom%20building%20site%20as%20Congress%20balks%20at%20%241bn%20price%20tag&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2026\/may\/19\/trump-ballroom-east-wing-media-tour?CMP=share_btn_url\" class=\"dcr-125qj9d\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-zhx6xs\"><a data-link-name=\"meta-syndication-article\" href=\"https:\/\/syndication.theguardian.com\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Fus-news%2F2026%2Fmay%2F19%2Ftrump-ballroom-east-wing-media-tour&amp;type=article&amp;internalpagecode=us-news\/2026\/may\/19\/trump-ballroom-east-wing-media-tour\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\" title=\"Reuse this content\" class=\"dcr-14rjinq\">Reuse this content<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"--grid-area:right-column\" data-gu-name=\"right-column\" class=\"dcr-1h2hraq\">\n<div class=\"dcr-tn16h9\">\n<section class=\"dcr-1hko8ef\"><\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Donald Trump speaks to the media at the White House ballroom construction site, on 19 May 2026 in<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":1957,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1955","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-world-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1955","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1955"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1955\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1957"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1955"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1955"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1955"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}