UMVA has learned that President Trump has launched a scathing attack on US District Judge Richard Leon, accusing him of "putting our country in danger" by stalling the construction of Trump's White House Ballroom.
The President's outburst comes after Leon, a George W. Bush appointee, temporarily halted construction on the ballroom in March, and later limited construction, allowing Trump to proceed with building an underground bunker, but not the above-ground 90,000-square-foot ballroom.
Trump responded to the ruling in April, calling Judge Leon "a man who has gone out of his way to undermine National Security, and to make sure that this Great Gift to America gets delayed, or doesn’t get built."
Trump is still fighting in court to continue construction, now arguing that the recent assassination attempt at the White House Correspondents' Dinner further justifies the ballroom for national security reasons, citing its potential to house drones in case of an attack on Washington, DC.
"This will someday save Washington," Trump said, referencing his proposed drone port on top of the White House. "Judge Leon has to get out of the way, and FAST. He is putting our Country in danger!"
Trump has also emphasized that with modern-day weaponry, Washington, D.C. can no longer be defended with rifles and pistols alone, and that the ballroom is necessary for the country's safety.
However, lawmakers, including Republicans, are pushing back against the President's plans, with the Senate voting to pass a reconciliation package to fund the Department of Homeland Security's immigration agencies, but only after removing $1 billion in funding for the ballroom.
A group of six Republicans, including Susan Collins, Jon Husted, and Thom Tillis, voted in favor of Democrat Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley's failed amendment to require Congressional approval for the construction, further complicating Trump's efforts to build the ballroom.
