President Donald Trump repeatedly told reporters Tuesday that he has personally donated to the White House ballroom project, which he has pledged will be constructed by private donations.
In the past, Trump has stated that the renovation, which has ballooned up to roughly $400 million, would be funded through donations from private individuals and companies.
“All of this was paid for by myself,” he stated on Tuesday while giving the White House press pool a glimpse at the construction. “This is a gift. This is not going to be paid for by the taxpayer. We have a judge that thinks it’s a terrible thing that we’re making a gift.”
Still, White House officials declined to say how large a donation the president himself had given.
Later in his remarks, Trump said he donated “about $10 million” toward renovations to Lafayette Park, located directly to the north of the White House’s gates.
Despite the private funding, the ballroom project has stirred controversy as Congress debates appropriating more than $1 billion for security upgrades tied to the new ballroom and the broader White House complex.
TRUMP SAYS WHITE HOUSE BALLROOM WILL ‘SHIELD’ MILITARY AND SECURITY COMPONENTS OF ENTIRE COMPLEX
“Congress is approving money for security. Some of it may go here for additional security. I don’t know, but Congress is approving money,” the president responded. “But this building, I mean, I put up the money, built this building, along with a lot of great patriots who have put up a lot of money to build the building, and we have a building that is going to be, I think it’s going to be potentially the most beautiful building in all of Washington.”
Watch Trump’s comments in full below: