The president of the United States, Donald Trump, took advantage this Sunday of the shooting that occurred on Saturday in front of the White House to demand the ongoing construction of a large ballroom in the presidential residence, which would include a security complex.

“Thank you to our excellent Secret Service and law enforcement for the quick and professional action tonight against an armed man near the White House, who had a violent history and a possible obsession with our country's most precious building,” Trump declared on his Truth Social network.

The president recalled that this event takes place a month after the assassination attempt he suffered at the White House Correspondents' Dinner and stated that "it demonstrates the importance of all future presidents having what will be the safest space of its kind ever built in Washington."

“The national security of our country demands it,” he stressed.

Trump thus referred to the controversial construction of a large ballroom in the White House, intended to host large social events, but which would also have a base for drones, a military hospital and research facilities.

The construction of the building, annexed to the presidential residence, will have a budget of 400 million dollars, double the initial estimate, which according to Trump will be financed by himself and donors, although Republicans in Congress are debating a budget of 1 billion to provide security for the complex.

On Saturday, a gunman opened fire at the White House security perimeter, triggering a shootout with authorities in which the suspect was killed and a bystander was wounded.

Trump was at the time in the White House, which was placed under security lockdown as a preventive measure while police investigated what happened. EFE