Trump insists WH ballroom 'under budget' and 'ahead of schedule'

President Donald Trump on Wednesday insisted that his planned ballroom on the White House grounds was under budget and ahead of schedule.

He further asserted that the project appeared to be over budget because he opted for a design that was twice the size of the original plan.

"The White House Ballroom is going up rapidly on the East side of the White House," he posted on Truth Social. "The only reason the cost has changed is because, after deep rooted studies, it is approximately twice the size, and a far higher quality, than the original proposal, which would not have been adequate to handle the necessary events, meetings, and even future Inaugurations."

"The original price was 200 Million Dollars, the double sized, highest quality completed project will be something less than 400 Million Dollars," he added. "It will be magnificent, safe, and secure! This was a necessary change, it was done long ago, but the Fake News failed to report it, trying to make it look like there was a cost overrun. Actually, it is coming in ahead of schedule, and under budget! Thank you for your attention to this matter."

The White House ballroom is a passion project for Trump, who has repeatedly insisted that prior presidents saw the need for such a space to hold formal state dinners and events.

Support for the project appears to have increased in the wake of an assassination attempt on Trump during the White House Correspondents Association dinner, which was hosted at a Washington, D.C., hotel.

The project has also faced a litany of legal challenges.

Ben Whedon is the Chief Political Correspondent at Just the News. Follow him on X.