Trump on TAXPAYERS ponying up $1 billion: "We're putting up $400m to do the ballroom section of the ballroom"

[Miles Archer]

Aaron Rupar

‪@atrupar.com‬
Q: You have repeatedly said taxpayers would not pay for the ballroom. Why should taxpayers now be on hook for a billion dollars?

TRUMP: They're not. That's for projects having to do with safety in a certain section of the WH grounds. We're putting up $400m to do the ballroom section of the ballroom

Q: You have repeatedly said taxpayers would not pay for the ballroom. Why should taxpayers now be on hook for a billion dollars?

TRUMP: They're not. That's for projects having to do with safety in a certain section of the WH grounds. We're putting up 0m to do the ballroom section of the ballroom

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) 2026-05-08T00:54:51.351Z

[OLDMDDEM]

1. He is a very deceptive liar.

[BeyondGeography]

2. Ok...so that's the part we can tear down

Got it. Thanks.

[kentuck]

3. In my conspiratorial opinion...

I think he wants extra cash for his personal army.

[Miles Archer]

4. The wording of the $1 billion "request" kept it nice and vague and open ended, so Trump could probably take a "taste."

On Monday evening, Senate Republicans released a proposed $70 billion(ish) immigration funding package — with an extra $1 billion tucked in it for an “East Wing Modernization Project.”

Calling Trump’s project a “modernization” falls well short of reality — he destroyed the East Wing last year — but he is in the process of building a massive new ballroom in its place, as well as a deeply buried underground bunker, replacing the previous Presidential Emergency Operations Center located under the East Wing.

The bill text specifies that none of that $1 billion may be used for “non-security elements” of the project, but it’s unclear how seriously the White House might take that limitation; previously, Trump and his lawyers have described the entire ballroom as a national security priority.

https://www.vox.com/the-logoff-newsletter-trump/487878/trump-white-house-ballroom-senate-republicans-security-funding

[kentuck]

5. I think it had to be "security" related?

Which could cover a lot of bases.

[mopinko]

6. i keep waiting for someone in the media to put up some comps.

what will $400m buy u in, say, new nyc skyscrapers? how about factories? any kind of new construction.
find me some comps, ffs.

[D_Master81]

7. So the cost is $1.4 billion?

So if you’re putting up $400 million and the taxpayer is $1 billion we are looking at almost a billion and a half for a wing expansion of the White House and a bunker? Isn’t that like new professional stadium numbers for construction? I’m sure everything is on the up and up with that budgeting and no one is making out like a bandit on inflated costs

[C_U_L8R]

8. What a slimeball.

Will no one rid us of this meddlesome pest?
Mother Nature, please do your thing.