Trump renews petition for White House ballroom, pointing to nearby shooting

The Trump administration renewed efforts to lift a court ruling that paused construction of a new White House ballroom. The administration sought nearly $1 billion in taxpayer funds to complete the project, arguing that completion is urgent for security. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche cited a recent shooting at a White House security checkpoint in Washington, DC, where a 21-year-old suspect pulled a gun and began firing, injuring a bystander before being killed in an exchange with Secret Service agents. Blanche also referenced an earlier April 25 attempt to breach security at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, where Trump and top officials were present. The administration argued the ballroom is needed to support the President’s constitutional duties in a safe, heavily secured facility.

"The administration of US President Donald Trump has renewed its push to lift a court ruling barring progress on a new White House ballroom, once again citing gun violence as a reason for pursuing the construction. In a court filing submitted on Sunday, acting Attorney General Todd Blanche argued it was urgent that the ballroom be completed."

"Blanche wrote, denouncing the lawsuit that has paused construction. As justification, Blanche pointed to the events of last Saturday, when a 21-year-old suspect named Nasire Best approached a White House security checkpoint in Washington, DC, pulled out a gun, and started shooting. One bystander was injured. The suspect was killed after an exchange of gunfire with Secret Service agents."

"Blanche argued that the incident represented the second time in the span of a month that Trump's life had been threatened. On April 25, 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen had attempted to breach security at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, where Trump and his top officials were in attendance. After an exchange of gunfire with security, Allen was taken into custody."

"This second attack on the President this month underscores the critical need for top level, state of the art security at the White House, including the Ballroom, Blanche wrote in the filing. He added that the ballroom is being constructed to ensure that the President can perform his constitutional duties in a safe and heavily secured facility."

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