Trump's ballroom in the White House is estimated to cost 400 million USD

Washington - American President Donald Trump today defended the increase in the estimated cost of the expansion of the ballroom in the White House, whose east wing the president ordered to be demolished despite criticism from preservationists. The construction cost is now estimated at $400 million (8.3 billion CZK), originally it was supposed to cost half. Trump claims that the ballroom will be double the size of the original plan and will be made from high-quality building materials. Debris from the demolished part of the White House was reportedly transported to a nearby golf course, although it contains toxic metals and Trump's administration is facing a lawsuit because of this.

"A ballroom is rapidly rising on the east side of the White House. The only reason the costs have changed is that after thorough studies, the ballroom is approximately twice as large and qualitatively much better than the original design, which would not suffice for holding necessary events, meetings, and even future inaugurations," Trump wrote. "The original price was $200 million, the completed project with double the size and the highest quality will cost slightly less than $400 million. It will be magnificent and secure," Trump stated, adding that the construction will be completed ahead of schedule and will not exceed the budget. The president has previously indicated that the funds for the project will come from private donations.

Republicans earlier in the Senate proposed to provide the Secret Service with one billion dollars from taxpayer money this year for security modernization, including the ballroom in the White House. The text of the funding package does not specify how much of the new funds for the Secret Service paid by taxpayers will be allocated for this ballroom. Voices from the president's supporters are also growing stronger, suggesting that it is important to complete the project quickly in light of the recent attack at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, which was held at a hotel and attended by Trump and other members of the government. The attacker, identified as Cole Tomas Allen, passed through security towards the ballroom while firing a shotgun. He was also armed with a pistol and knives. Many Democrats, including Senator Dick Durbin, criticize Trump’s ballroom, arguing that it is a display of vanity at a time when many Americans are struggling to make ends meet.

The entire project has also faced criticism due to the demolition of the east wing of the White House. The AP agency reported today that debris from the original building was transported to a nearby golf course, but it turned out to contain toxic metals. The non-governmental organization DC Preservation League, which represents preservationists, has sued Trump's administration, claiming that transporting the debris to the golf course is illegal and potentially dangerous. The group is also engaged in a legal dispute with the government because Trump's administration took over the golf course, which is located about three kilometers southeast of the White House, the AP agency reported.