{"id":2595412,"date":"2026-04-26T15:22:02","date_gmt":"2026-04-26T19:22:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/fetterman-and-graham-backs-trump-white-house-ballroom-after-shooting-scare\/"},"modified":"2026-04-26T15:23:13","modified_gmt":"2026-04-26T19:23:13","slug":"fetterman-and-graham-backs-trump-white-house-ballroom-after-shooting-scare","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/fetterman-and-graham-backs-trump-white-house-ballroom-after-shooting-scare\/","title":{"rendered":"Fetterman and Graham backs Trump White House ballroom after shooting scare"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Ffetterman-and-graham-backs-trump-white-house-ballroom-after-shooting-scare%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2595412&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Sen. john Fetterman (D-PA) and Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) backed President Donald Trump\u2019s proposal to build a White House ballroom after a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/shooting-sends-4th-of-july-parade-into-chaos-multiple-feared-injured-or-dead\/\" title=\"Shooting ...ds 4th Of July Parade Into Chaos, Multiple Feared Injured Or Dead\">shooting disrupted<\/a> teh White House Correspondents\u2019 Dinner on Saturday. The dinner-an annual event dating back to 1921 and held at the Washington Hilton-was interrupted by the incident, prompting Fetterman to argue that the venue wasn\u2019t designed to handle the U.S. government\u2019s line of succession during such emergencies. He said the party should \u201cdrop the TDS\u201d and proceed with the White House ballroom.<\/p>\n<p>The requested expansion has faced criticism, including concerns about cost and Democratic objections to enlarging White House facilities. Fetterman\u2019s support also highlights his growing tendency to break with parts of his own party, notably after the security scare. Meanwhile,Graham said he spoke with Trump and agreed that a hardened ballroom is a national security necessity,arguing it would let large events be hosted securely while allowing presidents to attend without leaving White House grounds and improving Secret Service control. Trump\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-spotted-on-white-house-roof-hints-at-big-plans-as-reporters-shout-questions-itll-be-beautiful\/\" title=\"... Spotted on ... Roof, Hints at Big Plans as Reporters Shout Questions: &#039;It&#039;ll Be Beautiful&#039;\">ballroom plan<\/a> has been under construction for months but continues to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/texas-state-legislature-passes-fetal-heartbeat-abortion-bill\/\" title=\"Texas state legislature passes fetal heartbeat abortion bill\">face legal challenges<\/a>.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p>Sen. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/john-fetterman\/\">John Fetterman<\/a> (D-PA) and Sen. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/lindsey-graham\/\">Lindsey Graham<\/a> (R-SC) backed President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\">Donald Trump\u2019s<\/a> push for a White House ballroom after a shooting disrupted the White House Correspondents\u2019 Dinner on Saturday night.<\/p>\n<p>The White House Correspondents\u2019 Dinner dates back to its <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/whca.press\/about\/history\/#:~:text=WHCA%20Dinners%20(1921%E2%80%931925),White%20House%20Correspondents'%20Association%20Dinner.\">first dinner in 1921<\/a>, which has brought together presidents, journalists, lawmakers, and celebrities to celebrate the freedom of the press. The event is held at the Washington Hilton in D.C. <\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4543122\/fetterman-backs-wickers-call-restart-attacks-iran\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Fetterman backs Wicker\u2019s call to restart attacks in Iran<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4543080\/senate-vote-confirm-warsh-fed-chair-scheduled-next-week\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Senate vote to confirm Kevin Warsh as Fed Chair scheduled for next week<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4542605\/rand-paul-2028-massie-primary\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Rand Paul\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >2028 ambitions face early test<\/a> in Thomas Massie\u2019s fight for political survival<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4543583\/trump-dinner-shooting-white-house-ballroom\/\"><strong>TRUMP SAYS DINNER SHOOTING JUSTIFIES WHITE HOUSE BALLROOM: \u2018CANNOT BE BUILT FAST ENOUGH\u2019<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>\u201cWe were there front and center,\u201d Fetterman wrote on X. \u201cThat venue wasn\u2019t built to accommodate an event with the line of succession for the U.S. government.\u201d He added: \u201cDrop the TDS and build the White House ballroom for events exactly like these now.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Fetterman\u2019s support is notable because the proposed ballroom has faced criticism over cost and opposition from Democrats who questioned the need for a major expansion at the White House. Fetterman, a Democrat, publicly broke with many in his party following the security scare.<\/p>\n<p>This break adds to the growing number of breaks Fetterman has taken from his party, including his opposition to shutting <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4504399\/john-fetterman-opposes-party-government-shutdown\/\">down the government over Immigration and Customs Enforcement funding.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>The ballroom, which includes a military bunker as <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4515732\/trump-dc-construction-project-court\/\">part of its security upgrades<\/a>, has been under construction for months but is still <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4525587\/trump-ballroom-can-continue-appeals-court\/\">facing legal challenges.<\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">We were there front and center. <\/p>\n<p>That venue wasn\u2019t built to accommodate an event with the line of succession for the U.S. government. <\/p>\n<p>After witnessing last night, drop the TDS and build the White House ballroom for events exactly like these. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/eeUBnlSe5y\">pic.twitter.com\/eeUBnlSe5y<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 U.S. Senator John Fetterman (@SenFettermanPA) <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SenFettermanPA\/status\/2048390030561812902?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">April 26, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script> <\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">I just spoke with President Trump. Again, I\u2019m very grateful that he and all in attendance were unharmed by the shooter last night because of the heroic work of the Secret Service. I totally agree with his assessment that the presidential ballroom at the White House is a national\u2026<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/LindseyGrahamSC\/status\/2048418081203007817?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">April 26, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script> <\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Graham said he spoke with Trump after the incident and agreed with the president\u2019s argument that a ballroom is a \u201cnational security necessity.\u201d He said the facility would allow large events to be held in a hardened, secure environment while enabling presidents to attend functions without leaving the White House grounds. Graham also said the Secret Service would benefit from having greater control over event security.<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/4543496\/republicans-democrats-unite-after-whca-shooting\/\"><strong>REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS UNITE AFTER WHCA SHOOTING: \u2018VIOLENCE HAS NO PLACE\u2019<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Trump has long promoted plans for a White House ballroom, arguing it would modernize the complex and provide a safer setting for large gatherings. <\/p>\n<p>The Washington Examiner contacted the offices of Fetterman and Graham for comment.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Fetterman and Graham back Trump\u2019s White House ballroom after Saturday WHCD shooting<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3970,"featured_media":2595415,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/AP26116148379710.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[538],"tags":[32319,41377,32283,5894,32127],"class_list":["post-2595412","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-washington-examiner","tag-donald-trump","tag-john-fetterman","tag-lindsey-graham","tag-politics","tag-white-house"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/AP26116148379710.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2595412","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3970"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2595412"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2595412\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2595417,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2595412\/revisions\/2595417"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2595415"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2595412"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2595412"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2595412"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}