Former United States Attorney General Pam Bondi called for the completion of a White House ballroom in a post on X on April 26, 2026, linking the project directly to the security of President Donald Trump and his guests following a violent security incident at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner the previous night. Her comments came as Trump and his allies renewed public emphasis on the construction of the ballroom, framing it as a necessary security enhancement in the aftermath of the attack at the Washington Hilton hotel.
Bondi wrote that “We MUST have the Ballroom completed to protect @POTUS and his guests. God Bless President Trump, his Administration and our Great Country.” Her post directly referenced Trump’s earlier statements arguing that a dedicated, highly secured event space on White House grounds would prevent similar incidents in the future and improve protection for large gatherings involving senior officials and guests.
Her remarks followed a lengthy Truth Social post from President Trump describing the security breach at the Washington Hilton, where shots were fired during the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner on Saturday evening. In that post, Trump wrote that “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.” He added that “this event would never have happened with the Militarily Top Secret Ballroom currently under construction at the White House” and urged that “it cannot be built fast enough.”
According to reporting from Reuters, the incident unfolded around 8:35 p.m. Eastern Time when a gunman fired shots inside the hotel hosting the dinner, prompting panic among attendees and a rapid evacuation of President Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, and cabinet officials. Law enforcement officials said a suspect armed with a shotgun, handgun, and knives rushed a Secret Service checkpoint inside the hotel lobby and was later tackled and arrested after an exchange of gunfire. A Secret Service agent was injured, while officials later described the suspect as a possible “lone wolf” who may have been targeting administration officials, including the president. Trump later stated on Truth Social that the suspect had been apprehended and said he believed law enforcement had acted quickly and effectively during the response.
In the aftermath of the attack, Trump and allies intensified their push for construction of the White House ballroom, a long-delayed project that has faced legal challenges and public scrutiny. The New York Times reported that Trump renewed his demand for approval of the project within hours of the incident, arguing it was necessary for security and operational control of large events on the White House campus. The proposal, which calls for a large multi-purpose event space, has been slowed by litigation and court rulings questioning aspects of its approval process and scope.
Bondi’s post aligned with that broader messaging, tying the security concerns raised by the shooting directly to the need for the ballroom’s completion. The incident and subsequent political response have further intensified debate over the project, which Trump has described as both a security measure and an upgrade to White House event infrastructure, while critics and legal challengers continue to raise questions about its authorization and oversight.