WASHINGTON — President Trump’s plan to add a massive new White House ballroom just ran into friendly fire — and the shots came from inside the Republican Party.
Six Republican senators crossed the aisle Wednesday and sided with Democrats on an amendment designed to throw up new roadblocks for Trump’s proposed 90,000-square-foot ballroom project at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
The amendment, pushed by Oregon Democrat Jeff Merkley, would have handed Congress exclusive authority over construction of the ballroom and prohibited the use of either federal funds or private donations unless lawmakers explicitly signed off first.
The Republican defectors were Sens. Susan Collins of Maine, Jon Husted of Ohio, Jerry Moran of Kansas, Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan of Alaska, and Thom Tillis of North Carolina.
The measure ultimately failed, 52-47, because supporters could not clear the Senate’s 60-vote procedural hurdle. But the vote exposed yet another divide between Trump’s America First agenda and a handful of Republicans who continue to find themselves at odds with the MAGA base.
Notably, several of the GOP senators who broke ranks are staring down difficult reelection fights.
Husted is reportedly trailing Democrat Sherrod Brown in recent Ohio polling. Collins faces a competitive race in Maine. Sullivan is also confronting a challenging political environment in Alaska, where polling has shown a tight contest developing.
The vote comes after weeks of controversy surrounding the ballroom project, which Trump has defended as both a modernization effort and a security upgrade for future administrations. The project has been tied to broader discussions about White House security following a frightening security incident at the 2026 White House Correspondents’ Dinner, which Trump allies have cited as evidence that enhanced facilities are needed.
Earlier versions of a Republican reconciliation package included up to $1 billion for security-related improvements connected to the White House modernization effort, including the ballroom project. Those funds were later removed after objections from lawmakers and procedural challenges in the Senate.
Trump has repeatedly argued that the ballroom itself would be financed through private contributions, while supporters say the facility would provide a secure venue for major state events that currently require costly temporary structures or off-site locations. Recent reports have described plans for advanced security features, including hardened construction materials and enhanced protective systems.
