Trump slams ballroom questions: ‘Under budget and ahead of schedule’

President Trump defended the price tag for the new White House ballroom after he was questioned about the cost increase.

The ballroom was originally said to cost $200 million, then rose to $300 million.

Mr. Trump raged against questions about the ballroom’s price from CNN chief White House correspondent Kaitlan Collins on Saturday.

“Caitlin Collins of Fake News CNN, always Stupid and Nasty, asked me why the new Ballroom was costing more money than originally thought one year ago,” the president said on social media. “I said because it is going to be double the size, and the quality of finishes and interiors has been brought to the highest level.

“Also, the column SPAN has been substantially increased for purposes of viewing. It is actually under budget and ahead of schedule, as my jobs always are.”

Mr. Trump said the changing price was because the ballroom plans are now “much bigger and more beautiful than originally planned.”

“Interestingly,” he added, “and seldom reported, there are no taxpayer dollars involved. It is being fully paid for by private donations.”

The ballroom remains nameless. It’s planned to be a whopping 90,000 square feet. The White House itself is around 55,000 square feet, not including the West Wing.

The administration originally said the ballroom would seat 650, but Mr. Trump has maintained it will be closer to 1,000.

The East Wing was demolished for the project in October. Construction sounds can be heard from the White House.

Critics say the ballroom is too big for the White House, but Mr. Trump has said the project is necessary. His team has argued that the price tag doesn’t matter since no taxpayer dollars are being used.

“In the latest instance of manufactured outrage, unhinged leftists and their Fake News allies are clutching their pearls over President Donald J. Trump’s visionary addition of a grand, privately funded ballroom to the White House — a bold, necessary addition that echoes the storied history of improvements and additions from commanders in chief to keep the executive residence as a beacon of American excellence,” the White House said in a release.

Recently, a new head architect was tapped for the project after reports said the original lead architect argued with the president over the size of the ballroom.

Shalom Baranes has taken over the role of lead architect from James McCrery II, who’s staying on as a consultant.