Trump Stresses 'Banquet Hall Construction' After Shooting Incident, Uniting Conservative Bloc

"If There Had Been a Banquet Hall, This Would Not Have Happened," Trump Says on Social Media
Republican Lawmakers Also Voice Support

After a shooting incident occurred at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, U.S. President Donald Trump once again highlighted the need to construct a large-scale banquet hall within the White House. The conservative bloc is also expressing support and strengthening its unity.

On the 26th (local time), President Trump said on the social network service Truth Social, "What happened last night is exactly why our great military, the Secret Service, law enforcement agencies, and, for various reasons, every president over the past 150 years has demanded a large, safe, and highly secure banquet hall on the White House grounds."

He went on to emphasize, "If there had been a banquet hall under construction at the White House with the highest level of military-grade security, such an incident would never have happened. No matter how quickly it is built, it is not fast enough."

The Trump Administration began constructing a new banquet hall last year by demolishing the White House East Wing and raising private donations. Recently, a U.S. federal judge ordered a halt to the construction after rejecting President Trump's claim that he had the authority to renovate the White House, including building a banquet hall, without congressional approval.

Axios reported that, following the shooting, the Republican Party and conservative circles are rallying around the White House banquet hall project.

Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry, considered one of President Trump's "loyalists," stated on X (formerly Twitter), "I had to evacuate the White House Correspondents' Dinner hall along with the President and all cabinet members," adding, "This incident is yet another reason why we must build a banquet hall for President Donald Trump."

Meghan McCain, the eldest daughter of the late Republican Senator John McCain, also expressed her support for the banquet hall, saying, "I no longer want to hear criticism about the new banquet hall Trump built at the White House."

Republican Representative Chip Roy (Texas) linked the shooting to the Department of Homeland Security budget dispute and expressed his support. On X, Roy stated, "Given the DHS adjustment guidelines, we must include a plan to build a secure banquet hall on the White House grounds this week and beyond."

Meanwhile, on the previous day, President Trump attended the White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA) dinner at the Washington Hilton Hotel in Washington, D.C., but had to evacuate urgently when gunshots were heard. The suspect, Cole Thomas Allen, a resident of California, was subdued at the scene.

According to the police investigation, the suspect sent a manifesto detailing his motives and intended targets to his family and relatives just before committing the crime. While the suspect did not specifically mention President Trump, he stated that his targets ranged from senior officials in the Trump Administration and beyond.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.