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Democrat on Trump’s ballroom: ‘My constituents can’t afford f—ing groceries or utility bills’

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by Ashleigh Fields - 04/28/26 4:09 PM ET

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by Ashleigh Fields - 04/28/26 4:09 PM ET

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Rep. Sarah McBride (D-Del.) on Tuesday railed against a push to fund President Trump’s White House ballroom, citing affordability concerns in her state and nationwide.

“My constituents can’t afford f—ing groceries or utility bills, and he now wants to spend taxpayer money on a ballroom?” McBride told MeidasTouch in an interview.

“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,” she added, referring to the Saturday shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner.

The alleged shooter, Cole Allen, was charged with an assassination attempt on the president, transportation of a firearm and ammunition in interstate commerce with intent to commit a felony, and discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence.

Trump and other Republicans have suggested that the dinner and other similar events be held inside the White House ballroom in future years due to safety concerns at outside complexes.

On Monday, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) proposed a bill that would earmark $400 million to build the ballroom along with an underground military facility and Secret Service annex in case of national emergency. Trump’s original plan for the ballroom was for it to be completely funded by private donors and corporations, with the promise of recognition inside the space.

“I’m convinced that had there been a presidential ballroom adjacent to the White House, the guy would have never gotten in,” Graham said.

The South Carolina Republican said taxpayers should pay for the infrastructure and donors could pay for decor and furnishings.

While some GOP lawmakers have spoken out in support of Graham’s new proposal, some, including Florida Sen. Rick Scott (R), have said although the project is a “critical, immediate need,” it shouldn’t be funded with taxpayer dollars.

“We have $39 trillion in debt,” he told NBC News. “Maybe we ought to stop spending money.”

The Trump administration’s push to overhaul conventional spaces at the White House for new construction projects has been largely denounced by Democrats and preservationists due to the lack of congressional approval and oversight.

In October, Senate Democrats questioned the “terms” of donations to the Trust for the National Mall, the 501(c)3 group funding the ballroom.

Lawmakers said donor provisions “remain unclear” and asserted 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 for the 90,000-square-foot ballroom range from Amazon to Booz Allen Hamilton, Lockheed Martin, Coinbase, Google, Meta, Microsoft, Palantir Technologies and Reynolds American.

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