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Trump says WHCD shooting highlights need for ballroom

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by Julia Manchester - 04/25/26 11:28 PM ET

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by Julia Manchester - 04/25/26 11:28 PM ET

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President Trump said that the shooting at the White House Correspondents Dinner on Saturday highlights the need for a ballroom at the White House.

“I didn’t want to say this but this is why we have to have all of the attributes of what we’re planning at the White House. It’s actually a larger room, and it’s much more secure,” Trump told reporters in the White House press briefing room minutes into his comments.

“It’s drone proof. It’s bulletproof glass. We need the ballroom. That’s why Secret Service, that’s why the military are demanding it,” he continued.

“They wanted the ballroom for 150 years for lots of different reasons but today is a little bit different because today we need levels of security that nobody has ever seen before,” he continued.

The president has said that the ballroom will house a massive military complex, but has not provided any additional details until Saturday.

Trump, first lady Melania Trump, and members of the Cabinet were evacuated from the dinner on Saturday after shots were fired in the Washington Hilton’s lobby.

Police said a suspect in custody exchanged fire with law enforcement. Surveillance video shared by President Trump showed a man running at full speed through a screening checkpoint, which led law enforcement to draw their weapons and fire.

“The U.S. Secret Service, in coordination with the Metropolitan Police Department, is investigating a shooting incident near the main magnetometer screening area at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner,” Antony Guglielmi, Secret Service chief of communications, said in a statement.

“The president and the first lady are safe along with all protectees. One individual is in custody. The condition of those involved is not yet known, and law enforcement is actively assessing the situation.”

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