Construction cranes are visible near the White House on April 16, 2026, in Washington, D.C.Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images
On Monday, Senate Republicans presented a legislative proposal allocating $400 million towards President Trump’s projected White House ballroom, asserting the necessity of such a venue after the incident at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, and revealing their intentions just hours before the Justice Department issued a harsh rebuttal to a judge’s prohibition on the undertaking.
Overnight, leading figures in the Justice Department lodged a request urging U.S. District Judge Richard Leon to rescind the injunction he implemented in March. That prior decree stated that Trump was unable to construct the envisioned ballroom without congressional approval.
In an unusual submission, some portions of which resemble President Donald Trump’s manner of social media communication, DOJ officials repeatedly denounce the plaintiffs in the lawsuit as afflicted by “TRUMP DERANGEMENT SYNDROME,” while labeling Leon’s restraint as “intolerable,” “unsustainable,” and “indefensible.” It also alludes to former President “Barack Hussein Obama,” employing his complete name in a style frequently adopted by Trump.
The filing reached the court mere hours after Republicans introduced a bill that would earmark $400 million to finance the amenity, which officials claim would encompass a newly constructed ballroom, accompanied by military and Secret Service protection infrastructure situated underneath.
Construction cranes are observed from the Washington Monument, on the site of the former East Wing of the White House on April 17, 2026 in Washington, D.C.Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images
Trump has consistently stated that the ballroom would be funded by private contributions.
Both the legal submission and the suggested legislation cite the previous Saturday’s occurrence, wherein a suspect allegedly breached security at the Washington Hilton during an occasion attended by Trump, as part of their underlying reasoning. The suspect, Cole Allen, was charged on Monday with attempted presidential assassination. Allen did not enter a plea during a court appearance.
“I firmly believe that had there been a presidential ballroom adjoining the White House, the individual would not have gained access,” asserted Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., the bill’s sponsor, in reference to the accused perpetrator.
Graham expressed that it would be “ludicrous” to hold future dinners at the Hilton.
“Anyone proposing that we organize an event of this nature, given the current climate, in a venue like the Hilton is acting irrationally,” he stated. “We must adapt to the realities of our time.”
Members of the media gather outside of the Washington Hilton Hotel on Sunday, April, 26, 2026, in Washington, the day after an armed individual attempted to break into the hotel’s ballroom during the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.Jose Luis Magana/AP
The motion followed a notification from the leader of the DOJ’s Civil Division, Brett Shumate, to plaintiffs in a written statement shared on Sunday on social media by acting Attorney General Todd Blanche.
During a Sunday news conference, ABC News questioned Blanche regarding certain remarks made by the DOJ in the written statement, specifically their assessment that the Washington Hilton posed a “demonstrably unsafe” setting for the president and his cabinet, and whether this was examined prior to Saturday’s dinner.
“When he uses the term demonstrably, it is demonstrated by the events of Saturday night,” Blanche responded. “This does not imply that the Secret Service would ever knowingly permit the president to enter an unsafe environment. I am certain that the Secret Service director remains committed to ensuring his ongoing safety. Additionally, as we have previously asserted, and as confirmed by all present in the room, we were secure. Our safety was assured.”
Blanche stated on Sunday that “law enforcement did not fail,” with hundreds of armed personnel separating the alleged potential assailant from the president, however, the late-night submission contained a declaration on its fourth page asserting that the suspect “came disturbingly close.”
In their motion to the court, the DOJ’s top officials argued that a secure venue for the president to participate in substantial gatherings in Washington “is currently nonexistent” and — despite the proposed ballroom timetable stating its completion no earlier than 2028 — immediate continuation of construction is necessitated by ongoing national security considerations.
According to the senators advocating for supplemental funding, the ballroom could serve as a secure site for hosting future events like Saturday’s gala. Graham clarified that the ultimate decision of whether to utilize the ballroom for such events would reside with the White House Correspondents’ Association, but their bill aims to afford them that choice.
“We are committed to constructing this amenity, and I would advise the future president to avoid the Hilton, and refrain from holding events at the Hilton or any other location outside the White House, considering the era in which we reside,” Graham declared. “Currently, that choice is unavailable. Our aim is to provide individuals with that option.”
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) arrives for a press conference at the U.S. Capitol on April 27, 2026, in Washington, D.C. Republican senators gathered to introduce legislation to fund construction of a White House ballroom as a secure alternative event space following the shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner in Washington on Saturday night.Heather Diehl/Getty Images
The senators suggest using customs duties to counterbalance the ballroom’s expenditure. Their proposal aligns with Trump’s repeated pronouncements that the ballroom — a proposed 89,000-square-foot augmentation of the White House — would be financed “at no expense to the taxpayer.” According to the White House, preliminary projections estimated the construction expenses at $200 million.
Sen. Katie Britt, R-Al., remarked on Sunday that the ballroom concerns the safeguarding of future presidents, not solely Trump, considering its expected completion date near the conclusion of his presidential tenure.
Construction cranes are seen the White House on April 16, 2026, in Washington, D.C.Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images
“This extends beyond him alone. Its completion will occur near the conclusion of his term. This concerns forthcoming presidents,” Britt stated. “This centers on our nation possessing a venue for assembly where the president of the United States of America can participate. This is pertinent to presidents both at present and in the years to come.”
The funding measure requires 60 votes to secure passage in the Senate. While it appears improbable that Democrats will provide these votes, Graham voiced his intention to bring the bill to a vote, ensuring that everyone’s stance is formally documented.
-ABC News’ Steven Portnoy and Katherine Faulders contributed to this report.
Sourse: abcnews.go.com