Representative Sarah McBride (D-Del.) delivered a blistering critique Tuesday of a Republican-led effort to build a new White House ballroom, arguing the proposal is wildly out of touch with the economic realities facing everyday Americans.
“My constituents can’t afford f—ing groceries or utility bills, and he now wants to spend taxpayer money on a ballroom?” McBride said in an interview with MeidasTouch. She added: “They shouldn’t use a potential tragedy to try to secure funding from taxpayers for the president to have Great Gatsby parties in the White House.”
The push to fund the ballroom gained new momentum after the shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner on Saturday. The alleged shooter, Cole Allen, faces charges including attempted assassination of the president and firearm offenses.
President Trump and some Republican lawmakers have argued that future WHCA dinners and similar events should be held inside a White House ballroom to improve security. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) introduced a bill on Monday that would allocate $400 million for the ballroom, along with an underground military facility and a Secret Service annex for emergencies.
“I’m convinced that had there been a presidential ballroom adjacent to the White House, the guy would never have gotten in,” Graham said, referring to the shooter. He proposed that taxpayers cover infrastructure costs while private donors fund decor and furnishings.
But the proposal has drawn sharp criticism from Democrats and even some Republicans. Senator Rick Scott (R-Fla.) told NBC News, “We have $39 trillion in debt. Maybe we ought to stop spending money.” Scott acknowledged the project is a “critical, immediate need” but opposed using taxpayer dollars.
The Trump administration’s broader push to overhaul White House spaces has faced bipartisan scrutiny. In October, Senate Democrats questioned the donor terms for the Trust for the National Mall, the 501(c)(3) group managing the ballroom funding. Lawmakers expressed concerns that “the opaque nature of this scheme reinforces concerns that President Trump is again selling presidential access to individuals or entities, including foreign nationals and corporate actors.” Corporate donors already committed include Amazon, Google, Meta, Microsoft, and Lockheed Martin, among others.
The debate comes amid a broader political firestorm. Trump resumed press attacks hours after the WH dinner shooting, and Charlamagne rejected calls to soften anti-Trump rhetoric following the incident. Meanwhile, Trump allies blasted Obama for downplaying the shooter's anti-Trump motive.
McBride’s remarks underscore a growing Democratic pushback against what they see as a misplaced priority. “We have real crises in this country—people struggling to afford housing, healthcare, and food—and Republicans want to build a ballroom?” she said. “It’s insulting.”
