Senator Hawley Defends Trump's Privately Funded White House Ballroom Renovation

Senator Josh Hawley strongly defended President Trump's planned renovation of the White House East Wing to add a grand ballroom, dismissing critics' concerns about preserving the historic building's facade as hypocritical. Hawley pointed out the irony of liberal opponents who previously supported the removal of numerous historical statues, including those of Christopher Columbus and Thomas Jefferson, during the race riots of 2020, yet now suddenly claim to be defenders of history. He emphasized that the ballroom project is privately funded by President Trump and patriotic donors, not taxpayers, and is designed to be consistent with the White House's classical architecture. The renovation aims to significantly increase the White House's capacity to host major events honoring world leaders and dignitaries. Hawley described the left's outrage as "manufactured" and motivated by opposition to President Trump rather than genuine concern for historical preservation. The White House responded by reaffirming the building's legacy of renovations and dismissing the critics' reactions as politically driven.