DOJ Argues Trump’s White House Ballroom Is Vital for Security Amid Assassination Attempts

The Department of Justice has filed a motion defending President Donald Trump’s proposed White House ballroom, framing it as a critical national security measure following an assassination attempt on Saturday night.

On Saturday, the Secret Service stopped a would-be assassin targeting an event sponsored by the White House Correspondents' Association at the Washington Hilton. While the incident underscored security concerns, it did not directly involve the executive branch. Nevertheless, Trump and his allies have argued that the ballroom—planned for the site of the White House’s demolished East Wing—is urgently needed to enhance security.

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche reiterated this argument in a motion filed on Monday night in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Blanche urged U.S. District Judge Richard Leon to reconsider a March 31 preliminary injunction that barred Trump from completing the project without congressional approval.

The motion, which seeks an "indicative ruling," may have limited practical impact. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit is already reviewing Trump’s challenge to Leon’s decision and has stayed the injunction in the interim. Leon, who rejected a previous motion to lift the injunction on April 16, is unlikely to be swayed by Blanche’s brief, which critics describe as hyperbolic and politically charged.

DOJ’s Motion Criticizes Historic Preservation Group

The motion opens with a sharp critique of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the organization that requested the injunction. It states:

"'The National Trust for Historic Preservation' is a beautiful name," it says, "but even their name is FAKE because when they add the words 'in the United States' to the National Trust for Historic Preservation, it makes it sound like a Governmental Agency, which it is not. In fact, the United States refused to continue funding it in 2005 because they strongly disagreed with their mission and objectives. They are very bad for our Country. They stop many projects that are worthy, and hurt many others. In this case, they are trying to stop one that is vital to our National Security, and the Safety of all Presidents of the United States, both current and future, their families, staff, and Cabinet members."

The brief continues, accusing the National Trust’s leaders of suffering from "Trump Derangement Syndrome (TDS)" and noting that they "are represented by the lawyer for Barack Hussein Obama, Gregory Craig."

Assassination Attempts Cited as Justification

Blanche’s motion also references the Washington Hilton incident, calling it a "narrow miss" and the "third assassination attempt on President Trump since 2024." He argues that the attack confirms the need for a secure space for large events, stating:

"this Court's injunction stalling this Project cannot defensibly continue." It is "intolerable," "unsustainable," and "indefensible."

The ballroom, Blanche claims, is "required for National Security" because it will "shield the now-exposed East Room of the Executive Mansion and provide best-in-class, modern security to the President and his family, his Cabinet, his staff, and visitors."