President Donald Trump said he was so preoccupied with planning his new ballroom that he had not heard about Wednesday's Supreme Court ruling that significantly undermines the landmark Voting Rights Act. When a reporter at the White House asked Trump for his thoughts on the court's 6-3 decision, which invalidated a Black-majority congressional district in Louisiana as an illegal racial gerrymander, Trump appeared unaware of the ruling.
Trump's Response to the Ruling
“I don’t know, you’ll have to tell me, when did the ruling come out?” Trump asked. “I’ve been with the astronauts. I’ve been with contractors because we’re trying to get the ballroom built ahead of schedule. It’s right on schedule now, it’s ahead of schedule now, I want to keep it that way.”
Details of the Ballroom Project
Trump plans to construct a $400 million ballroom on the site of the historic East Wing, which he had demolished. Following a shooting at the White House Correspondents' Dinner on Saturday night, Trump addressed reporters at the White House and used the opportunity to promote the ballroom.
“We looked at all of the conditions that took place tonight, and I will say that it’s not a particularly secure building,” Trump said about the Washington Hilton, where a gunman was captured after firing shots during the event. “And uh, I didn’t want to say this, but this is why we have to have all of the attributes of what we’re planning at the White House,” he continued.
Security Features of the New Ballroom
Trump said the new ballroom will be “drone proof.” “It’s actually a larger room and it’s much more secure,” Trump said. “It’s got — it’s drone proof, it’s bulletproof glass. That’s why the Secret Service, the military, are demanding it.”
