Donald Trump lashed out at a journalist today regarding inquiries into his new White House ballroom project. The US president defended the construction, stating that it was progressing under budget and ahead of schedule. When questioned about the alleged budget increase from $200 million to $400 million, Trump fired back, calling the reporter “not a smart person.” This incident occurred as Trump departed for a critical meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing.
Senate Republicans have unveiled a proposal to allocate up to $1 billion to enhance security for Trump’s ballroom project, citing the need for increased security following a recent assassination attempt. The plan has sparked debates among Republican senators, as it involves public funding for security measures despite Trump’s earlier promise of relying solely on private donations.
While Trump estimated the construction costs at around $400 million, the security expenses had not been previously disclosed by the White House. Senate Majority Leader John Thune justified the budget, emphasizing the necessity of safeguarding the President in a volatile global environment.
Democrats are gearing up to challenge the proposal, which Republicans integrated into a spending bill aimed at restoring funding for immigration enforcement agencies that have been obstructed by Democrats since February.
