Trump spoke to the press after the incident (Image: Getty)
Donald Trump claimed the shooting at the Correspondents' Dinner is "exactly the reason" security and military officials have been asking for a safe and larger ballroom at the White House. The US President's cherished $400million (£296m) project, a new ballroom at the White House in the area previously home to the East Wing, has been repeatedly slowed down by litigation.
In a message shared on Truth Social, he also said a lawsuit which halted the construction of the ballroom should be dropped. He claimed, referring to the shooting that happened overnight: "What happened last night is exactly the reason that our great Military, Secret Service, Law Enforcement and, for different reasons, every President for the last 150 years, have been DEMANDING that a large, safe, and secure Ballroom be built ON THE GROUNDS OF THE WHITE HOUSE.
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U.S. Secret Service agents surround President Donald Trump amid the incident (Image: AP)
"This event would never have happened with the Militarily Top Secret Ballroom currently under construction at the White House.
"It cannot be built fast enough!"
He added that while the building is "beautiful" it also has "every highest level security feature there is."
Mr Trump made a similar comment about the need of a ballroom at the White House, which is being funded by private donors, at a news conference after the shooting, which happened at the Washington Hilton hotel.
President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump were evacuated from the room amid the shooting (Image: AP)
Following the incident overnight, the suspect has been identified as Cole Tomas Allen, 31, of Torrance, California. One officer who was shot but protected by his bulletproof vest was taken to hospital.
The 31-year-old is understood to have been a guest in the hotel where the dinner was being held.
He faces charges including assaulting an officer with a dangerous weapon, but acting US attorney general Todd Blanche said additional charges will be filed.
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English (US) · 