President Donald Trump responded to the deadly shooting outside the White House by connecting it to one of his most debated projects. The president used the incident to make a bold case for his controversial $400 million ballroom.
Donald Trump reacts to White House shooting
President Donald Trump used the recent deadly shooting outside the White House to justify his controversial ballroom project, Us Weekly reports. The commander-in-chief took to Truth Social on Saturday, May 23, to address the incident.
“Thank you to our great Secret Service and Law Enforcement for the swift and professional action taken this evening against a gunman near the White House, who had a violent history and possible obsession with our Country’s most cherished structure,” Trump wrote. He added that the incident “goes to show how important it is, for all future Presidents, to get, what will be, the most safe and secure space of its kind ever built in Washington, D.C.”
A Secret Service agent confirmed that a shooter was shot and killed during the incident. One bystander was also injured outside the White House. The suspected shooter allegedly opened fire at a Secret Service checkpoint at 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue NW.
Secret Service Chief of Communications Anthony Guglielmi provided further details about the confrontation. “Shortly after 6 p.m. Saturday, an individual in the area of 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue pulled a weapon from his bag and began firing,” Guglielmi said. “Secret Service Police returned fire, striking the suspect who was transported to an area hospital where he was pronounced deceased.”
It remains unclear whether the bystander was struck by agents or the alleged shooter. The suspected shooter has not been publicly named at the time of publication.
Trump has previously claimed the 90,000-square-foot, $400 million ballroom will be “the most beautiful ballroom anywhere in the world” and “very safe.” The project’s cost has doubled from its original estimate. Trump and Senate Republicans have since proposed that $1 billion in U.S. taxpayer funds cover the project.
Originally reported by Vritti Johar on Mandatory.com.