Donald Trump claims shooting would 'never have happened' if ballroom had been built

Donald Trump has claimed a shooting at a White House correspondents' dinner would have been avoided had his proposed ballroom been built.

The US president and his wife, Melania Trump, were rushed to safety after gunshots were fired at the dinner at the Hilton Hotel, Washington DC, on Saturday night.

A suspect, named as Cole Allen, 31, who reportedly opened fire near the entrance to the ballroom before being apprehended quickly, is in custody.

On Sunday, Mr Trump took to his social media platform, Truth Social, to claim the shooting would "never have happened" had his proposed new White House ballroom been built.

Trump latest: US president evacuated and suspect in custody after shots fired

The president wrote: "What happened last night is exactly the reason that our great Military, Secret Service, Law Enforcement and, for different reasons, every President for the last 150 years, have been DEMANDING that a large, safe, and secure Ballroom be built ON THE GROUNDS OF THE WHITE HOUSE.

"This event would never have happened with the Militarily Top Secret Ballroom currently under construction at the White House. It cannot be built fast enough!

"While beautiful, it has every highest level security feature there is plus, there are no rooms sitting on top for unsecured people to pour in, and is inside the gates of the most secure building in the World, The White House.

Read more:
Talks about King's US state visit being held
How shooting unfolded at the correspondents' dinner

"The ridiculous Ballroom lawsuit, brought by a woman walking her dog, who has absolutely No Standing to bring such a suit, must be dropped, immediately.

"Nothing should be allowed to interfere with with its construction, which is on budget and substantially ahead of schedule!!! Thank you for your attention to this matter. President DONALD J. TRUMP."

Earlier this month, a judge had halted the construction of the proposed £296m ballroom.

However, it was ruled below-ground work could continue on a bunker and other "national security facilities" at the site where a now-demolished East Wing of the White House once stood.

Mr Trump had accused district judge Richard Leon of "going out of his way to undermine National Security, and to make sure that this Great Gift to America gets delayed, or doesn't get built".

After it had been argued by government lawyers the project would guard against a range of possible threats, the judge wrote: "Defendants argue that the entire ballroom construction project, from tip to tail, falls within the safety-and-security exception and therefore may proceed unabated. That is neither a reasonable nor a correct reading of my Order!"

If completed, the 90,000sq ft ballroom for up to 999 people would mark the biggest structural change to the White House in more than 70 years.

(c) Sky News 2026: Donald Trump claims shooting would 'never have happened' if ballroom had been built