Administration

Trump gives rare kudos to Paul after commission’s White House ballroom vote

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by Sophie Brams - 04/02/26 8:23 PM ET

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by Sophie Brams - 04/02/26 8:23 PM ET

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President Trump on Thursday offered rare praise for Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) after the senator joined with most members of the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC) to approve plans for a sprawling ballroom on the East Wing of the White House.

“I would like to thank the hardworking Commissioners and Staff of the National Capital Planning Commission, who just voted overwhelmingly, 8-1, to approve the magnificent White House Ballroom now rising on this Hallowed Ground,” Trump wrote in an evening post on Truth Social.

“I am pleased to announce that even Board Member Senator Rand Paul, known as an extraordinarily difficult vote, voted a strong YES,” the president added.

Once close allies, Trump and Paul have had a rocky relationship in recent years.

The Kentucky Republican often bucks his party on key fiscal votes and has been an outspoken critic of the president’s tariff policies. Trump, in turn, has lashed out against Paul, saying last June that the lawmaker votes “NO on everything.”

Eight members of the nine-member panel decided to advance plans for the 90,000-square-foot ballroom, which is designed to seat 1,000 guests and replace the outdoor tents typically used for large state events.

Phil Mendelson, chair of the Council of the District of Columbia, cast the lone “no” vote, explaining that he felt the proposed space was too large.

“It’s just — I’m trying to be nice here — it’s just too large,” Mendelson said. “It’s just too large. And if we can get the same program but not as tall, not competing in height with the main structure, and a condensed footprint, we are better for that.”

Mendelson also expressed that he thought the commission should be looking at the renovations Trump wants to make to the White House grounds now or in the future holistically.

“I don’t think we should be looking at the White House piecemeal,” he told the board. “Today is the ballroom. Tomorrow, it could be some modifications to –– I guess, it’s the colonnade between the main building and the West Wing. The day after that, it could be some addition to the West Wing.”

The $400 million project is being funded mostly by private donors, according to Trump.

It was slated for completion by 2028, but a federal judge halted construction earlier this week after finding Trump did not have the authority to build the ballroom without congressional approval.

Ryan Mancini contributed.

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