Donald Trump launched an attack on a journalist today after being questioned about his proposals for a new White House ballroom. When pressed on the cost of the ballroom he had commissioned, the US president stated: 'We are on budget, under budget... I've doubled the size of it because we obviously need that.'
Upon being challenged over reports that the budget had doubled from $200 million to $400 million, the Mirror reports Trump fired back: 'I doubled the size of it you dumb person. Double the size! You are... you are not a smart person.'
Security Costs Under Scrutiny
On Monday (May 11), Senate Republicans confirmed they will move forward with a proposal to give the Secret Service up to $1 billion for security upgrades to the ballroom project, insisting more security is needed after a man was charged with trying to assassinate him last month.
Republican senators faced questions about the plan, which would spend taxpayer dollars to secure the East Wing project after Trump had said it would only be paid for with private donations. Trump has said the construction would cost around $400 million, but the White House had not previously proposed a number for security costs.
