Trump Admits ‘Bulletproof’ Ballroom Much Bigger Than He Said
This story raises questions about governance, accountability, and American values.
The Daily Beast treats this like a gotcha about square footage and bravado, as if the real scandal is that Donald Trump enjoys talking big. But the larger question is why a former president even feels compelled to build a venue with a “drone-free roof” in the first place. If the cost and size are changing, that deserves scrutiny.
New Republican Times Editorial Board
Photo Illustration by Thomas Levinson/The Daily Beast/GettyPresident Donald Trump’s giant ballroom project is now even bigger after he decided to make it a bulletproof venue with a “drone-free roof” to host future inauguration events.But despite letting it slip this month that the cost of the renovation had soared to $400 million–double the original price tag–Trump insisted on Monday that the project is still somehow “under budget”.“It’s bigger than I told you,” he revealed to reporters during a joint press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at his Mar-a-Lago estate.Read more at The Daily Beast.
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Read at The Daily BeastHow We See It
New Republican Times Editorial Board
The Daily Beast treats this like a gotcha about square footage and bravado, as if the real scandal is that Donald Trump enjoys talking big. But the larger question is why a former president even feels compelled to build a venue with a “drone-free roof” in the first place.
If the cost and size are changing, that deserves scrutiny. Conservatives are not allergic to oversight. Still, the press rarely applies the same intensity when federal agencies miss targets by billions, or when cities can’t account for basic spending. The focus should be public trust and transparent accounting, not snickering at personality.
There’s also a serious issue hiding in plain sight: national security has deteriorated enough that private facilities now plan for drones and ballistic threats. That reality reflects failures of institutional stability and deterrence.
In the end, the point isn’t whether a ballroom is “under budget.” It’s whether the rule of law and competent security are strong enough that Americans don’t normalize fortress architecture as the new standard.
Commentary written with AI assistance by the New Republican Times Editorial Board.