President Trump has claimed that those opposing his White House ballroom project are “disloyal” to the United States. The ballroom is at the center of a court battle over whether work on the project can continue to go ahead, with questions also raised over plans to build a military complex beneath the site. Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office on Monday, Trump dismissed criticism of the costly endeavour, which is being built on the former site of the East Wing of the White House. It’s going to be the most beautiful ballroom of its kind.” Trump has long boasted about the ballroom project, even sharing a surreal A.I.-generated video of himself showing former President George Washington around the complex.
Speaking to reporters on Monday, Trump suggested that the military had approached him about the project. “When I said that I was going to build a ballroom, the military asked if they could see me,” he said. An appeals court has ordered construction of the ballroom to be halted by August 21 unless Congress green-lights the project. The decision still allows Trump to continue building the underground military facility.
On Friday, his administration officials asked the Supreme Court to allow the ballroom aspect of the project to go ahead. “Today, the Project is 65% complete in its entirety, and moving quickly toward total completion,” U.S. John Sauer wrote in his filing. Speaking on Monday, Trump also defended his wider efforts to beautify the White House, claiming that it had been “let go” before he became president.
The exteriors were falling apart, the columns were falling apart. The whole place was a mess.” Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
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