Trump Praises Rand Paul for Supporting White House Ballroom Plans

On Thursday, President Trump had a rather unexpected moment of praise for his longtime critic, Senator Rand Paul from Kentucky, following Paul’s vote in favor of a new ballroom at the White House.

Expressing gratitude, Trump said on Truth Social, “I want to thank the hard-working members and staff of the National Capital Planning Commission for overwhelmingly, 8-1, approving the magnificent White House Ballroom on this hallowed ground.” He added that Senator Paul had cast a “strong yes vote” in what is considered a challenging decision.

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Trump and Paul have had a rocky relationship over the years, with Paul often voicing criticism regarding Trump’s tariff policies and military actions, particularly against Iran. Notably, in late March, Paul was the sole Republican to support the War Powers Resolution, which seeks to restrict the President’s authority in foreign military engagements.

Their tensions date back to the 2015 Republican primary, where they publicly clashed during the first debate. Since then, remarks have escalated, with Trump recently calling Paul a “sick wacko.”

However, while Trump celebrates the project’s approval, it still faces significant legal challenges. A federal judge recently issued a ruling that halted the construction of the 90,000-square-foot ballroom, stating that it requires legislative approval. In his 35-page decision, the judge emphasized, “The President of the United States is the custodian of the White House for future generations of the First Family. But he is not the owner! There is no law comparable to giving the president the powers he claims he has.”

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Despite the judicial setback, the National Capital Planning Commission moved forward with the vote. Chairman Will Schaaf remarked that the judge’s ruling was a roadblock for construction but not for continued planning.

“We’re going to get through that and continue to look at the east wing modernization project,” he stated during the meeting.

The ballroom, which is being funded by private donations, aims for completion by 2028. Yet, with the Trump administration planning an appeal against the ruling, the project’s timeline is anything but certain.