Trump doubles down on White House ballroom project in late-night rant

President Donald Trump used a late‑night Truth Social post to defend the White House ballroom as “desperately needed,” insisting it’s advancing on time and under budget and will be funded by private donors, even as the project’s price tag has ballooned from about $200 million to well over $400 million. Republicans briefly sought $1 billion in taxpayer funding, a move dropped after public backlash. Trump has touted the project during meetings and public remarks, even as a legal challenge by preservationists over aesthetic injury looms, which he says has no standing. The ballroom remains unfinished, and Trump’s obsession with it continues to be a recurring feature of his public appearances and posts.