Trump Says Washington Hilton ‘Not a Particularly Secure Building’
President Donald Trump described the Washington Hilton Hotel, where the Washington Correspondents’ Dinner was held, as “not a particularly secure building” and added that “we need the ballroom.”
At a news conference, hours after gunshots were heard at the hotel — leading to the escort of Trump, first lady Melania Trump and several other cabinet members — Trump radius on the necessity of the ballroom. Trump said it was necessary to put in place “levels of security that probably no one has ever seen before.”
“We’ve looked at all the conditions that occurred tonight, and I will say it’s not a particularly secure building,” Trump said. “I didn’t mean that, but that’s why we have to have all the trappings of what we expect in the White House.”
“It’s actually a bigger room,” Trump added, speaking of the White House ballroom. Trump stressed that the White House ballroom would be “much more secure” and have “bulletproof glass.”
A federal appeals court recently ruled that construction of the White House Ballroom can move forward, after a judge previously halted “part of the $400 million project.”
In October, it was reported that the East Wing of the White House had been demolished to build the ballroom.
Trump’s comments come after gunshots were heard during the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.
The shooting reportedly took place “on the floor above where the dinner was being held,” CNN’s Wolf Blitzer said, according to WTOP News:
CNN’s Wolf Blitzer reports that the shooting happened on the floor above where the dinner was being held. Blitzer said he was very close to the shooter and a police officer threw him to the ground in an attempt to protect him.
“A guy with a very, very serious weapon starts shooting. I was a few feet away from him,” Blitzer said, adding that the shooter was shooting randomly.
After the incident, Trump said law enforcement had “requested” that people “leave the premises, per protocol.” Trump also confirmed that Melania Trump, Vice President JD Vance and all cabinet officials were “in perfect condition.”
