The Trump ballroom

The Congressional Insider -  President Trump insists his new White House ballroom will cost taxpayers “not one dime,” but government watchdogs and even a Republican senator say public money is already flowing into the project. Trump has repeatedly promised the ballroom will be funded entirely by private donors, not taxpayers.

A House Democratic report says tens of millions in taxpayer dollars have already gone toward construction. The project’s price tag has jumped from an early $100 million estimate to as much as $600 million.  Republican Senator Rick Scott has questioned why any taxpayer money would be needed if private funding exists.  A contract shielding donor names from public disclosure was only revealed after a lawsuit.