Trump's Ballroom Will Be Funded by Taxpayers, Records Reveal: Report

Key Points:

• Documents obtained by The Washington Post reveal that the White House has known for months the ballroom project would cost around $600 million, far exceeding Trump's initial $200 million claim, with taxpayers expected to cover about half the expenses.
• Clark Construction, the contractor for the project, estimated $293 million from private sources but anticipated $155 million from the Secret Service and $149 million from the White House Military Office, contradicting Trump's claims the ballroom would be "taxpayer-free."
• Federal invoices show Clark Construction has already received tens of millions from federal accounts, despite Trump's repeated assertions that no taxpayer money would be used.
• The ballooning costs have sparked controversy, including a push by some Senate Republicans to allocate $1 billion in taxpayer funds, which faced backlash from both the public and within the party.
• The report follows a $60 million UFC event hosted by Trump on the White House lawn, where security costs funded by taxpayers added millions more, raising further concerns about transparency and public spending.