Press ReleaseBipartisan2026-05-22

False Narrative on the White House Ballroom

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Context

This press release from Representative Ralph Norman (R-SC) was published on 2026-05-22 and titled "False Narrative on the White House Ballroom".

Full Text

False Narrative on the White House Ballroom

I’ve gotten tons of calls from constituents about the FAKE NEWS media once again twisting the facts and pushing a completely FALSE narrative about White House ballroom funding!! So let’s set the record straight ONCE AND FOR ALL. Congress was NOT debating funding for the ballroom construction itself. The brick-and-mortar construction is being privately funded by President Trump and private donors — NOT taxpayers. The federal funding request was for Secret Service security upgrades and East Wing security modernization tied directly to protecting the White House complex and the President of the United States. But now Senate Democrats and weak-kneed Republicans are holding up broader homeland and security funding after the Senate parliamentarian stripped the provision from the reconciliation 2.0 package. Washington politicians are playing political games instead of focusing on NATIONAL SECURITY!! This building project is about making sure the White House can safely host world leaders, military officials, dignitaries, and major events without putting the President, staff, Secret Service agents, and guests at unnecessary risk. After repeated threats and assassination attempts against President Trump, Americans understand security is NOT optional. Weakness invites danger!! And despite what the media wants you to believe, this is bigger than President Trump or one political party. This is about protecting and strengthening security for EVERY future Commander in Chief — whether they’re Republican, Democrat, or God forbid, even a socialist one day!! The White House belongs to the AMERICAN PEOPLE. Protecting it is COMMON SENSE. Presidents from BOTH parties have overseen major White House renovations throughout history. Theodore Roosevelt built the West Wing. Harry Truman rebuilt much of the White House because the structure was literally falling apart. Franklin Roosevelt modernized the complex during wartime. None of those projects required Congress to approve every hammer and nail. These renovations go through the proper review and approval process with agencies like the National Capital Planning Commission and the Commission of Fine Arts. That’s how it has ALWAYS worked. But because it’s PRESIDENT TRUMP, the media suddenly wants to act as if this is some selfish vanity project. It’s NOT!! What SHOULD outrage Americans is politicians in Washington playing games with national security because they’re more focused on attacking President Trump than protecting the country. The media can keep pushing dishonest narratives. But the American people are smarter than that. Protecting the Commander in Chief is NOT partisan. Strengthening White House security against modern threats is COMMON SENSE!!

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False Narrative on the White House Ballroom I’ve gotten tons of calls from constituents about the FAKE NEWS media once again twisting the facts and pushing a completely FALSE narrative about White House ballroom funding!! So let’s set the record straight ONCE AND FOR ALL. Congress was NOT debating funding for the ballroom construction itself. The brick-and-mortar construction is being privately funded by President Trump and private donors — NOT taxpayers. The federal funding request was for Secret Service security upgrades and East Wing security modernization tied directly to protecting the White House complex and the President of the United States. But now Senate Democrats and weak-kneed Republicans are holding up broader homeland and security funding after the Senate parliamentarian stripped the provision from the reconciliation 2.0 package. Washington politicians are playing political games instead of focusing on NATIONAL SECURITY!! This building project is about making sure the White House can safely host world leaders, military officials, dignitaries, and major events without putting the President, staff, Secret Service agents, and guests at unnecessary risk. After repeated threats and assassination attempts against President Trump, Americans understand security is NOT optional. Weakness invites danger!! And despite what the media wants you to believe, this is bigger than President Trump or one political party. This is about protecting and strengthening security for EVERY future Commander in Chief — whether they’re Republican, Democrat, or God forbid, even a socialist one day!! The White House belongs to the AMERICAN PEOPLE. Protecting it is COMMON SENSE. Presidents from BOTH parties have overseen major White House renovations throughout history. Theodore Roosevelt built the West Wing. Harry Truman rebuilt much of the White House because the structure was literally falling apart. Franklin Roosevelt modernized the complex during wartime. None of those projects required Congress to approve every hammer and nail. These renovations go through the proper review and approval process with agencies like the National Capital Planning Commission and the Commission of Fine Arts. That’s how it has ALWAYS worked. But because it’s PRESIDENT TRUMP, the media suddenly wants to act as if this is some selfish vanity project. It’s NOT!! What SHOULD outrage Americans is politicians in Washington playing games with national security because they’re more focused on attacking President Trump than protecting the country. The media can keep pushing dishonest narratives. But the American people are smarter than that. Protecting the Commander in Chief is NOT partisan. Strengthening White House security against modern threats is COMMON SENSE!!