‘All of this was paid for by myself’: Trump says WH ballroom roof will be ‘drone-proof’

WASHINGTON (TNND) — President Donald Trump took reporters to his ballroom construction site on Tuesday for a press gaggle, telling them the roof will be “drone-proof” and “missile-proof” once it’s complete.

He described the ballroom as a major architectural addition to the White House complex and said the facility would feature state-of-the-art security technology capable of protecting against modern aerial threats.

“They have a massive drone capacity. Not only is it drone-proof, if a drone hits it, it bounces off. It won’t have any impact,” Trump said.

“But it’s also meant as a drone port, so it protects all of Washington, the roof of the building,” he added. “This is a shield that protects everything that’s inside, everything that’s on top.”

Trump, who showcased renderings of the building on easels and he explained the various components, said the entire roof was developed with the U.S. military in mind. He said the roof is “very high” and has “a 360-degree vision” of Washington.

Trump also said the ballroom is being paid for by donors, as well as himself.

WASHINGTON, DC – MAY 19: U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to the media alongside posters of his proposed White House ballroom amid construction at the White House on May 19, 2026 in Washington, DC. The Senate parliamentarian ruled this week that taxpayer funds in the budget reconciliation package cannot be used for a $1 billion provision intended to fund security for Trump’s White House ballroom. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

“All of this was paid for by myself,” he said. “We are making a gift of this. This is a gift. This is not going to be paid for by the taxpayer. We have a judge that thinks it’s a terrible thing that we’re making it a gift. He said, ‘It’s terrible that we’re making a gift that should be paid for by the taxpayer.’ That’s one I’ve never heard before. I don’t know. Maybe he doesn’t understand. This is a gift to the United States of America — and more than a gift. It’s going to be one of the most beautiful buildings that’s ever been built in the country or in Washington, D.C.”

A proposal to fund $1 billion in security additions for the White House campus and the ballroom fails to meet procedural rules, according to the Senate parliamentarian, dealing a blow to Republican plans to include it as part of a bill to fund immigration enforcement agencies for the next three years.

The parliamentarian’s ruling, described on Saturday by Senate Democrats, said that funding for a project as large and complex as Trump’s massive East Wing renovation is too broad to be included in the narrow GOP budget bill, which cannot be filibustered and only needs a simple majority to pass.

Trump, meanwhile, said the ballroom will serve as a permanent venue for state dinners, diplomatic events and large receptions, eliminating the need for temporary tents frequently used during major White House gatherings.

Trump has repeatedly argued that the White House lacks a modern event space capable of hosting large-scale functions comparable to other world capitals.

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EDITOR’S NOTE: The Associated Press contributed to this report.