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President Donald Trump is pressuring Republicans to get his way on the dance floor.
White House officials are pressuring Republicans in Congress to approve $1 billion in security enhancements Trump On the grounds that it would be a bad idea for private donors to pay for the presidential bunker underneath, according to two people familiar with the matter.
The White House said the hall itself was funded by donors Tech giants like Apple, Meta, and AmazonBut there have been concerns about these companies or wealthy donors effectively sponsoring the bunker.
Proposed security measures for the East Wing generally fall into two groups, people say: an underground bunker and above-ground elements that are slated to include bulletproof glass and a roof concealing a barrier. Counter-attack drone port And rocket launchers.
The bunker is currently under construction with money Congress appropriated last year for White House security, but that funding from last year is not expected to cover all the proposed security measures Trump wants for construction, the people say.
If the $1 billion is not approved, Trump aides have warned lawmakers that they may have to scale back proposed security measures at a time when Trump has faced repeated attempts on his life, according to a Republican leadership source.
The White House needs security upgrades. For example, while Congress Install solid windows After the Capitol riots on January 6, fire A fight between a gunman and intelligence agents in front of the White House over the weekend renewed concerns that part of the West Wing was not adequately secured.
However, in conversations with WIRED, lawmakers privately grumbled that the reason the White House now needs money to build a bunker is because Trump gutted the existing bunker when he bulldozed the East Wing last year without getting funding from Congress first.
As a result, the White House has now turned Trump’s bunker problem onto Congress.
Trump aides privately acknowledge that Republicans are in a tough spot because the idea of the president giving $1 billion to a construction project while the Iran war continues and gas prices remain high remains politically toxic.
But there is little sympathy from the White House. “Republicans are just going to have to suck it up and get it done,” said a Trump aide, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to convey White House thoughts.
That’s largely because there are few priorities as close to Trump’s heart as his own dance floor. In recent days and weeks, he has been studying the designs and tweaking details of the building’s design, say two people familiar with his level of interest.
Recently, Trump’s attention has been focused on the exterior of the White House complex. During the weekend, as in the United States Notes passed back and forth With mediators to reach a preliminary agreement to end the Iran war, Pres Spotted checking columns Outside the White House headquarters.
Trump decided that months ago He wants Corinthian columns For the east wing, which features highly decorated acanthus leaves and spirals at the top of the fluted columns, compared to the simpler spirals of the Ionic columns in the residence.
In a statement, White House spokesman David Engel defended the funding as necessary for the Secret Service.
“The funds in this bill will be used for a variety of reasons, which include, but are not limited to, tightening security at the White House complex, providing additional protection for protectees, Special Operations Division, training, and providing additional security for high-profile events of national importance,” Davis says.
