28. April 2026

Senate Republican Pushes Back on Trump Ballroom Proposal: ‘We Have $39 Trillion of Debt’

WASHINGTON-- Sen. Rick Scott of Florida is objecting to a proposal that could direct up to $400 million in federal funds toward constructing a large ballroom complex at the White House, arguing the project should rely entirely on private financing at a time of soaring national debt.

Speaking Monday, the Republican senator said he supports the concept of adding a ballroom to the White House grounds but questioned why taxpayer dollars should be used if private funding is available. “I don’t know why you would do it with taxpayer money if it’s all funded,” Scott said in an interview with NBC News. Pointing to the country’s fiscal outlook, he added, “We have $39 trillion in debt. Maybe we ought to stop spending money.”

The proposal has exposed a divide among Republicans, as a group of GOP senators led by Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina moves to advance legislation authorizing federal funding for the project. The plan goes beyond a ceremonial space, envisioning a roughly 90,000-square-foot ballroom that would replace the current East Wing and include an underground military facility and a Secret Service annex designed for use during national emergencies.

Scott, in a separate statement, reiterated his support for building the ballroom but insisted it should not come at public expense. “We need the ballroom,” he said, while urging lawmakers to move forward using private contributions already pledged for the effort. “We don’t need tax dollars for it because the project is already paid for with private funds.”

President Donald Trump had initially indicated the ballroom would be financed through private donations. However, Graham and other supporters of the legislation say federal involvement is warranted for security-related components of the project. They have proposed offsetting the cost through revenue streams such as customs fees and national park user fees.

Graham said the distinction between public and private funding should hinge on function, with taxpayers covering infrastructure tied to national security and donors contributing to decorative elements. “Underneath it will be a lot of military stuff,” Graham said at a Monday press conference, describing plans for a hardened facility beneath the ballroom. “There will be a Secret Service annex, and we pay for it by offsetting it with customs fees.” Private contributions, he added, could be reserved for furnishings and ceremonial details.

The South Carolina senator said he discussed the proposal with Trump over the weekend and that the White House supports the broader concept.

Momentum for the plan intensified after a security scare Saturday at the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner, held at the Washington Hilton. Authorities said a suspect armed with a shotgun and handgun attempted to breach the event before being subdued by Secret Service agents. Trump, Vice President JD Vance, House Speaker Mike Johnson and several Cabinet officials were in attendance at the time.

Graham cited the incident as evidence of the need for a secure, on-site venue capable of hosting large events. “A meeting space that is secured on the White House grounds that would allow people to do what they did at the Hilton hotel is necessary,” he said. “I’m convinced that had there been a presidential ballroom adjacent to the White House, the guy would have never gotten in.”

The proposal is expected to face scrutiny from Democrats and some fiscal conservatives, particularly over its cost and scope. Lawmakers are preparing to seek a vote on the authorization measure in the coming weeks, setting up a broader debate over security, spending priorities and the role of private funding in major federal projects.