Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.) at a press conference announcing legislation to fund the construction of a White House ballroom as a secure alternative event space, at the U.S. Capitol on April 27, 2026, following an attempted assassination on President Donald Trump at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner in Washington. Heather Diehl/Getty Images
Republican lawmakers began a push on Sunday to draft and introduce bills seeking congressional approval for President Donald Trump’s long-planned $400 million White House ballroom, pointing to security needs in the wake of a presidential assassination attempt at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner.
The move came just two days after a gunman tried to breach security at the Washington Hilton dinner where Trump and other top officials were in attendance, prompting renewed debate over the need for a large, secure room at the White House.