<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>When </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/donald-trump" rel="" target="" title="Donald Trump"><span>Donald Trump</span></a><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/most-of-white-house-east-wing-torn-down-photos-show/3580f2a7-6252-489d-8fcb-1433c92f52bb" rel="" target="" title="knocked down the East Wing of the White House"><span>knocked down the East Wing of the White House</span></a><span> without authorisation, few Republican politicians were willing to publicly back his ambitious renovations.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>But after the major security breach during the White House Correspondents' dinner on Saturday, they have changed their tune.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Soon after, an armed gunman allegedly tried to kill the president, Trump said the scare justified the need for a ballroom in the </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/white-house" rel="" target="" title="White House"><span>White House</span></a><span>.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/replace-iran-with-italy-fifa-world-cup-donald-trump-paolo-zampolli-usa-politics-news/d50e7c73-987e-4511-964b-259c5205610a" rel="" target="" title="Trump envoy asks president to replace Iran with Italy at World Cup"><strong><span>Trump envoy asks president to replace Iran with Italy at World Cup</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>And now prominent Republicans are agreeing with him.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Senator Rand Paul, a prominent conservative who has often clashed with the Trump administration, will introduce legislation to allow the ballroom to go ahead.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Tomorrow, I'll bring my bill to the floor that allows it to proceed without new taxpayer costs and make it easier for Congress to review major White House projects going forward," he said.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/world/donald-trump-ballroom-politicians-east-wing-whca-dinner-shooting-updates/9b908390-8d69-45c4-a4b8-1e8881be0053" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A separate bill would set aside US$400 million in taxes to build the ballroom.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Many people I think originally saw it as a vanity project… I don't see it that way," </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/russia-ukraine-update-arrest-warrant-for-us-senator-lindsay-graham-issued-by-kremlin/c47f43a0-3ebb-400b-b390-730e8a6b326b" rel="" target="" title="Republican Senator Lindsey Graham"><span>Republican Senator Lindsey Graham</span></a><span> said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I'm convinced if there had been a presidential ballroom adjacent to the White House, the guy would have never gotten in."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/donald-trump-election-redistricting-gerrymandering-plan-backfires-virginia-congressional-race-referendum-results/efd3d84b-11a5-4cd7-b2f9-55d802facccd"><strong><span>Trump's bid to secure power for his party just backfired big time</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Even one high-profile Democrat has joined the chorus.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We were there front and centre," Senator </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/us-government-shutdown-moderate-democrats-take-first-step-toward-ending-stalemate/f2771ae8-f257-4a4a-b15c-83a3331e7011" rel="" target="" title="John Fetterman"><span>John Fetterman</span></a><span> said. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"That venue wasn't built to accommodate an event with the line of succession for the US government. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"After witnessing last night, drop the TDS (Trump Derangement Syndrome) and build the White House ballroom for events exactly like these."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Fetterman has been increasingly stepping away from his party by siding with Republicans on major issues.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/donald-trump-ballroom-construction-halted-white-house-east-wing-usa-politics-news/3f85b9a7-b9d3-4d44-8af3-380a25eea3a5" rel="" target="" title="Trump's renovations of the White House have been blocked by a federal judge"><span>Trump's renovations of the White House have been blocked by a federal judge</span></a><span> because he did not have congressional approval to do so.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The President of the United States is the steward of the White House for future generations of First Families," Judge Richard J Leon wrote in his decision.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"He is not, however, the owner!"</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>In a scathing judgment, Leon declared the president could not carry out </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/white-house-east-wing-demolition-begins/03ca45ca-98b5-42f0-b1a2-5a9fda2801d7"><span>extensive renovations</span></a><span> without congressional approval.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"No statute comes close to giving the President the authority he claims to have," the judge wrote.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Leon said while presidents were able to carry out "care, maintenance and repair", the existing laws "bring to mind things like replacing the lightbulbs, fixing broken furniture, and changing the wallpaper".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/truth-social-donald-trump-devin-nunes-massive-losses-bitcoin-investment-usa-news/57ce532d-4fda-4354-b3db-9673a1ead2bc"><strong><span>CEO of Trump's media company ousted after losing billions</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Trump has said his ballroom is being funded by donations, but will not reveal who has done so.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The secrecy behind the project has attracted the ire of Democrats.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Who is funding Trump's $400m unlawful ballroom and what are they getting in return?" Representative Dan Goldman said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The White House is blatantly avoiding oversight by shielding their secret contracts and anonymous donors, all without Congressional authorisation or any meaningful conflict of interest protections."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The White House Correspondents Association (WHCA) is not a government organisation and would not be obliged to hold its event at the White House.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Today WHCA President Weijia Jiang said the Hilton Hotel had donated the uneaten dinners from the cancelled event.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"They freeze-dried the steak and lobster for longer shelf life before giving them to two shelters for abused women and children," she wrote on X.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"HUGE thank you to the staff that worked through the night under terrible circumstances."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/donald-trump-election-redistricting-gerrymandering-plan-backfires-virginia-congressional-race-referendum-results/efd3d84b-11a5-4cd7-b2f9-55d802facccd"><strong><span>Donald Trump's bid to secure power for his party just backfired big time</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Cole Tomas Allen, 31, </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/donald-trump-shooting-live-updates-us-politics-iran-middle-east-king-charles-visit/bbf43b65-1d7e-494d-bdea-e4145d42ab29" rel="" target="" title="was arrested after exchanging fire with law enforcement"><span>was arrested after exchanging fire with law enforcement</span></a><span> and the Secret Service at the Washington Hilton.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/donald-trump-white-house-correspondents-dinner-shooting-suspect-charged-with-attempted-assassination/bab6a22c-29b9-47cc-9781-7af9f8610c46" rel="" target="" title="He has been charged"><span>He has been charged</span></a><span> with attempting to assassinate the president. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/ghislaine-maxwell-pardon-donald-trump-clemency-jeffrey-epstein-usa-news/8372ac2a-a009-40d6-b287-edb89e010d27" rel="" target="" title="'Outrageous': Push in Congress for Ghislaine Maxwell to be pardoned"><strong><span>'Outrageous': Push in Congress for Ghislaine Maxwell to be pardoned</span></strong></a><span></span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><em><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></em></strong><span> </span><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><strong><em><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Apple</span></em></strong></a><span> </span><strong><em><span>and</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Google Play</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Make 9News your preferred source on Google by</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://9.nine.com.au/8x987w" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>ticking this box here</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Sign up to</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://login.nine.com.au/edm?client_id=nineatnine" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>our breaking newsletter here</span></em></strong></a></li></ul></div></div>