Trump Shows Reporters White House Ballroom Construction Site

President Donald Trump on Tuesday took reporters to a platform overlooking the White House ballroom construction site to explain the project and its security features. Shouting over the noise of drills and hammers, Trump described the six-story underground complex that will include a military hospital, research facilities, offices for the first lady and a full-service kitchen in addition to the ballroom.

Trump said the roof is made of very strong steel and will be drone-proof because any drone that hits it will bounce off without impact. He added that the roof is also designed as a drone port to protect Washington. The president said the military will stay on the roof to keep watch over the city and that all duct work and equipment is hidden within the walls for safety reasons.

U.S. Secret Service. "This is not going to be paid for by the taxpayer. This is a gift to the United States of America," Trump said. The administration has asked Congress for $1 billion in taxpayer funds for security additions on the White House campus, including for the ballroom.

The Senate parliamentarian ruled that the security funding proposal could not be included in a bill to fund immigrant enforcement agencies for three years. Several Republican lawmakers have balked at the price tag in an election year where voters face higher gasoline and grocery prices linked to the Iran war and oil supply disruptions.

U.S. adults oppose the decision to tear down the East Wing while 28 percent support it. The National Trust for Historic Preservation has sued to halt construction until Congress approves plans for the building. Trump said the ballroom will be ready in September 2028, less than six months before his term ends, and that it is really for other presidents.

White House spokesperson Davis Ingle said the tour was not in response to congressional difficulties and that Trump was excited to showcase the project to the press and the American people.