{"id":1464,"date":"2026-05-18T00:39:49","date_gmt":"2026-05-18T00:39:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usglobalnews.com\/?p=1464"},"modified":"2026-05-18T00:39:49","modified_gmt":"2026-05-18T00:39:49","slug":"trump-news-at-a-glance-republicans-pledge-to-secure-funding-for-white-house-ballroom","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usglobalnews.com\/?p=1464","title":{"rendered":"Trump news at a glance: Republicans pledge to secure funding for White House ballroom"},"content":{"rendered":"<div style=\"border-color:var(--article-border);background-color:var(--article-inner-background)\" class=\"dcr-wqti5a\">\n<div class=\"dcr-2zxs1v\">\n<div style=\"--grid-area:media\" data-gu-name=\"media\" class=\"dcr-1fnjjtg\">\n<div class=\"dcr-14emo0l\">\n<div class=\"dcr-tr9ye5\">\n<figure id=\"f0efa00a-9d4a-47cb-8b8b-3154d1d88053\" class=\"dcr-142siv7\">\n<div id=\"img-1\" class=\"dcr-1t8m8f2\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Donald Trump holds up a photograph of an ornate ballroom with chandeliers and chairs\" src=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/media\/f78a01330d0ef7e26954a5779a958a5ed0a4a850\/897_40_6363_5091\/master\/6363.jpg?width=465&amp;dpr=1&amp;s=none&amp;crop=none\" width=\"465\" height=\"372.04384724186707\" loading=\"eager\" class=\"dcr-evn1e9\"><span class=\"dcr-v822l1\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-gup2gr\">\n<div class=\"dcr-fntg6k\"><label for=\"the-checkbox\" class=\"dcr-1xgwz8b\"><\/label> <\/p>\n<div id=\"the-caption\"><figcaption data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-1os51wo\"><span class=\"dcr-hvsf4t\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1qvd3m6\">Donald Trump holds a mockup of the White House ballroom in the Oval Office in October 2025.<\/span> Photograph: Aaron Schwartz\/Pool\/Aaron Schwartz &#8211; Pool\/CNP\/Shutterstock<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><a href=\"#img-1\" data-ignore=\"global-link-styling\" class=\"open-lightbox dcr-13fd1ms\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><button data-element-id=\"f0efa00a-9d4a-47cb-8b8b-3154d1d88053\" type=\"button\" class=\"open-lightbox dcr-4tmywn\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\"><span class=\"dcr-194i6pr\">View image in fullscreen<\/span><\/button><\/a><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"dcr-n4pnam\"><figcaption data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-1hdkqum\"><span class=\"dcr-hvsf4t\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1qvd3m6\">Donald Trump holds a mockup of the White House ballroom in the Oval Office in October 2025.<\/span> Photograph: Aaron Schwartz\/Pool\/Aaron Schwartz &#8211; Pool\/CNP\/Shutterstock<\/figcaption><\/span><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"--grid-area:border\" data-gu-name=\"border\" class=\"dcr-1fnjjtg\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"--grid-area:headline\" data-gu-name=\"headline\" class=\"dcr-1fnjjtg\">\n<div class=\"dcr-14emo0l\">\n<div class=\"dcr-1aqe7zu\">\n<div class=\"dcr-13sure5\">\n<div class=\"dcr-47lvke\"><a href=\"\/tone\/explainers\" class=\"dcr-epjkf7\">Explainer<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h1 class=\"dcr-1k1a1x\">Trump news at a glance: Republicans pledge to secure funding for White House ballroom <\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"--grid-area:standfirst\" data-gu-name=\"standfirst\" class=\"dcr-1fnjjtg\">\n<div class=\"dcr-b3fmmo\">\n<p>Senate parliamentarian ruled a proposal to fund $1bn in security additions for the White House failed to meet procedural rules. Key US politics stories from Sunday 17 May 2026 at a glance<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"--grid-area:body\" data-gu-name=\"body\" class=\"dcr-kn9unn\">\n<div class=\"dcr-1a4fred\">\n<div id=\"maincontent\" class=\"dcr-ydnaza\">\n<div class=\"article-body-commercial-selector article-body-viewer-selector dcr-1c9t5u6\">\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">A US Senate official on Saturday removed security funding that could be used for Donald Trump\u2019s planned $400m White House ballroom from a massive spending package, Democratic lawmakers said, imperilling Republican efforts to devote taxpayer money to the contentious project.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">The decision by the Senate\u2019s parliamentarian, Elizabeth MacDonough, deals a blow to Trump and his administration, which has sought the money for security purposes related to the ballroom.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Trump has said construction of the ballroom will be funded by private donors. But Senate Republicans are seeking $1bn in taxpayer funding to the Secret Service for security upgrades, including the ballroom, even though the bulk of the legislation is devoted to immigration enforcement.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Trump\u2019s congressional allies are invoking complex budget rules to secure passage without any Democratic support. Democrats have opposed funding for Trump\u2019s signature immigration crackdown absent reforms they have sought since federal immigration agents killed US citizens in separate incidents in Minnesota in January.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Ryan Wrasse, a spokesperson for Senate majority leader John Thune, wrote in a post on X that \u201cnone of this is abnormal\u201d during the complicated budget process that Republicans are using to try to pass the immigration enforcement and White House security money on a partisan basis.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">\u201cRedraft. Refine. Resubmit,\u201d Wrasse said in the post.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Republicans hold a 53-47 majority in the Senate, leaving them short of the 60 votes needed to pass most legislation under the chamber\u2019s rules. Democrats have criticized the ballroom as an expensive and frivolous diversion by Trump at a time when Americans face rising costs such as higher fuel prices.<\/p>\n<figure data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" data-spacefinder-type=\"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.QAndAExplainerBlockElement\" class=\"dcr-173mewl\">\n<div data-spacefinder-role=\"nested\">\n<hr class=\"dcr-1peeo35\">\n<h2 id=\"federal-funding-for-trumps-400m-ballroom-in-jeopardy-after-senate-ruling\" class=\"dcr-bry4uv\">Federal funding for Trump\u2019s $400m ballroom in jeopardy after Senate ruling<\/h2>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Republicans have said the ballroom-related spending they are pursuing is needed to ensure presidential safety, citing an April incident in which a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2026\/apr\/26\/white-house-correspondents-dinner-shooting-washington-dc\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">gunman tried to storm a black-tie media gala<\/a> in Washington that Trump attended.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2026\/may\/17\/federal-funding-trump-ballroom-jeopardy-senate-ruling\" data-link-name=\"in body link\"><sub class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Read the full story<\/sub><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div data-spacefinder-role=\"nested\">\n<hr class=\"dcr-1peeo35\">\n<h2 id=\"republican-louisiana-senator-bill-cassidy-loses-primary-after-trump-intervenes-to-oust-him\" class=\"dcr-bry4uv\">Republican Louisiana senator Bill Cassidy loses primary after Trump intervenes to oust him<\/h2>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">The Republican senator Bill Cassidy lost his primary on Saturday, as voters in Louisiana opted instead to advance two challengers to a runoff election after an extraordinary intervention by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/donaldtrump\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">Donald Trump<\/a> to oust the incumbent.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2026\/may\/17\/republican-louisiana-senator-bill-cassidy-results-primary-trump\" data-link-name=\"in body link\"><sub class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Read the full story<\/sub><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div data-spacefinder-role=\"nested\">\n<hr class=\"dcr-1peeo35\">\n<h2 id=\"trump-attacks-massie-as-republican-critic-describes-desperate-attempts-to-oust-him-from-primary\" class=\"dcr-bry4uv\">Trump attacks Massie as Republican critic describes \u2018desperate\u2019 attempts to oust him from primary<\/h2>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">With two days to go before the next big test of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/donaldtrump\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">Donald Trump<\/a>\u2019s iron grip over his party, the president went head-to-head on Sunday with his nemesis, Thomas Massie the Kentucky congressman who is in a fight for his political life in Tuesday\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/republicans\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">Republican<\/a> primary.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2026\/may\/17\/trump-thomas-massie-primary\" data-link-name=\"in body link\"><sub class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Read the full story<\/sub><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div data-spacefinder-role=\"nested\">\n<hr class=\"dcr-1peeo35\">\n<h2 id=\"workers-racing-to-turn-reflecting-pool-blue-for-trump-may-be-at-risk-union-warns\" class=\"dcr-bry4uv\">Workers racing to turn reflecting pool blue for Trump may be at risk, union warns<\/h2>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Workers renovating one of Washington DC\u2019s most historically symbolic sites in a project ordered by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/donaldtrump\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">Donald Trump<\/a> may be risking their safety as they race to finish on time for the US\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2025\/may\/04\/trump-us-250th-anniversary\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">250th<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2026\/apr\/29\/trump-freedom-truck-museum-exhibit\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">anniversary celebrations<\/a>, a union monitoring the site has warned.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2026\/may\/17\/trump-washington-dc-reflecting-pool\" data-link-name=\"in body link\"><sub class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Read the full story<\/sub><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div data-spacefinder-role=\"nested\">\n<hr class=\"dcr-1peeo35\">\n<h2 id=\"kash-patel-faces-scrutiny-over-snorkelling-outing-at-uss-arizona-memorial-in-hawaii\" class=\"dcr-bry4uv\">Kash Patel faces scrutiny over snorkelling outing at USS Arizona memorial in Hawaii<\/h2>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/fbi\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">FBI<\/a> director, Kash Patel, is facing new scrutiny following reports that he participated in a snorkelling excursion around the USS Arizona during a trip to Hawaii last summer.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">The outing was first reported this week by the Associated Press, which obtained government emails <a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/fbi-kash-patel-snorkel-hawaii-pearl-harbor-192a81cde7a5879aab747bc0ba4b78b9\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">describing the <\/a>excursion as a \u201cVIP snorkel\u201d around the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nps.gov\/perl\/uss-arizona-memorial-programs.htm\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">USS Arizona <\/a>\u2013\u00a0the site that holds the remains of more than <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pearlharborhistoricsites.org\/plan\/uss-arizona-memorial\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">1,000 US navy sailors and marines<\/a> who died at Pearl Harbor in 1941.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2026\/may\/16\/kash-patel-snorkeling-uss-arizona-memorial-hawaii\" data-link-name=\"in body link\"><sub class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Read the full story<\/sub><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div data-spacefinder-role=\"nested\">\n<hr class=\"dcr-1peeo35\">\n<h2 id=\"what-else-happened-today\" class=\"dcr-bry4uv\">What else happened today:<\/h2>\n<ul class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">\n<li class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">The hantavirus outbreak, while unlikely to spark the next big pandemic, <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2026\/may\/17\/pandemic-preparedness-after-covid\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">is shining a spotlight on the ways public health has deteriorated in the US:<\/a><\/strong> its ability to test for rare diseases, its expertise on outbreak prevention and response, its ability to battle misinformation and restore trust.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Thousands of people streamed on to the National Mall for a daylong prayer rally on Sunday billed as a \u201crededication of our country as One Nation Under God\u201d. The White House-backed event <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2026\/may\/17\/dc-national-mall-prayer-rally\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">has drawn broad criticism for blurring the lines between church and state<\/a><\/strong>, as prominent Republican officials appeared to speak alongside a slate of mostly evangelical speakers.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">After a series of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2026\/apr\/09\/hottest-march-on-record\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">record-breaking <\/a>US <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2026\/mar\/20\/heatwave-us-west-climate-crisis\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">heatwaves<\/a>, <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/environment\/2026\/may\/17\/north-america-bees-early-swarm-season\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">the 2026 bee swarm season in North America has started 17 days earlier than last year<\/a><\/strong>, pushing beekeepers to adapt to a rapidly shifting season while raising new questions about how honeybees are responding to the climate crisis.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">An investigation is under way after two <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2026\/may\/17\/air-force-base-idaho-incident\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">US jets collided and crashed during an airshow Sunday at Mountain Home air force base in western Idaho<\/a><\/strong>, a spokesperson told Reuters.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<hr class=\"dcr-ibrox0\"><\/figure>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Catching up?<em> Here\u2019s what happened on <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2026\/may\/17\/trump-news-at-a-glance-irs-billions-taxpayer-dollars-could-paid-president-and-allies\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">16 May 2026<\/a><\/strong>.<\/em><\/p>\n<figure id=\"967a35a8-5962-400c-9504-b76da2d4ea92\" data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" data-spacefinder-type=\"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.EmbedBlockElement\" class=\"dcr-173mewl\"><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-print-layout=\"hide\" class=\"dcr-qxqnsy\"><span class=\"dcr-1rq3vad\">Explore more on these topics<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-1dzx48f\">\n<ul class=\"dcr-1rrvs2w\">\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/us-news\/trump-administration\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">Trump administration<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/us-news\/series\/trump-administration-briefing\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">Trump administration briefing<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/us-news\/donaldtrump\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">Donald Trump<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/us-news\/us-politics\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">US politics<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/tone\/explainers\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">explainers<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"dcr-nu129i\"><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Trump%20news%20at%20a%20glance:%20Republicans%20pledge%20to%20secure%20funding%20for%20White%20House%20ballroom%20&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2026\/may\/18\/trump-news-at-a-glance-latest-updates-today?CMP=share_btn_url\" class=\"dcr-125qj9d\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-zhx6xs\"><a data-link-name=\"meta-syndication-article\" href=\"https:\/\/syndication.theguardian.com\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Fus-news%2F2026%2Fmay%2F18%2Ftrump-news-at-a-glance-latest-updates-today&amp;type=article&amp;internalpagecode=us-news\/2026\/may\/18\/trump-news-at-a-glance-latest-updates-today\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\" title=\"Reuse this content\" class=\"dcr-14rjinq\">Reuse this content<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"--grid-area:right-column\" data-gu-name=\"right-column\" class=\"dcr-1h2hraq\">\n<div class=\"dcr-tn16h9\">\n<section class=\"dcr-1hko8ef\"><\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Donald Trump holds a mockup of the White House ballroom in the Oval Office in October 2025. Photograph:<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":1467,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1464","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-world-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1464","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1464"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1464\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1466,"href":"https:\/\/usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1464\/revisions\/1466"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1467"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1464"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1464"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1464"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}