In a striking and highly unusual argument, the Department of Justice is now claiming that blocking Donald Trump’s proposed White House ballroom could put his life in danger.
In a letter sent Sunday to the National Trust for Historic Preservation, DOJ Civil Division chief Brett Shumate urged the group to immediately drop its lawsuit aimed at stopping the construction project. The justification: a violent incident at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner the night before, which Shumate described as an “assassination attempt” on Trump.
According to the DOJ, the episode proves that relying on off-site venues like the Washington Hilton for major events poses an unacceptable security risk—and that building a dedicated ballroom on White House grounds is essential to prevent future threats.
“The White House ballroom will ensure the safety and security of the President for decades to come,” Shumate wrote, arguing that the project would eliminate the need for high-profile gatherings at outside locations.
He didn’t mince words about the lawsuit itself.
“Put simply, your lawsuit puts the lives of the President, his family, and his staff at grave risk,” Shumate said, accusing the preservation group of pushing a case that “serves no purpose except to stop President Trump no matter the cost.”
The DOJ gave the group until 9 a.m. Monday to withdraw its legal challenge. If it refuses, federal attorneys say they will move to dissolve the injunction and dismiss the case, citing the recent incident as grounds for urgent action.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche echoed the demand on social media, posting the letter and declaring that “it’s time to build the ballroom.”
Read the full letter below:
