Eric Trump blasts claim that Trump's ballroom project is a 'pay-for-play scheme', calls it a 'gift'

WASHINGTON, DC: Eric Trump, on Thursday, October 23, dismissed the allegations by House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries that President Donald Trump’s East Wing ballroom project at the White House constitutes a pay-for-play scheme.

Eric slammed Jeffries' claim as nonsense and described his father's project as the most incredible gift he could give the United States. 

Eric Trump heaps praise on his father's ballroom project

Eric Trump told 'Finnerty' that his father's decision to fund and design a new state ballroom at the White House is reportedly financed through private donations and is being distorted for political gain.

"He forgets about the fact that my father self-funded his first campaign," he said of Jeffries. "He forgets about the fact that my father donates his salary to charitable causes — the first president to ever do that ... This is going to be the most incredible gift that Donald Trump can give the United States."

According to Eric, the ballroom is a permanent, cost-saving addition that would eliminate the need for temporary structures for major events. "From a security standpoint, this thing will actually pay for itself many times over," he said.

"Every time they have to put up a tent or go off-site, it's expensive to move the president. Keeping it right there at the people's house is the right thing to do," Eric added.  

He also pushed back against the critics who said the construction was harming the White House and argued the East Wing was "totally underutilized."

Speaking to Newsmax, he said, "No one else could pull off what Donald Trump is doing."

He pointed out that the new ballroom would feature "vaulted windows, stone columns, chandeliers, marble work, and ornate plaster molding," calling it "one of the most spectacular ballrooms ever built in the world."

Hakeem Jeffries' allegation against Trump's ballroom project

On Wednesday, while speaking to MSNBC, Hakeem Jeffries alleged the president was "running the largest pay-to-play scheme in the history of the country," claiming the $250 million project might come from donors seeking influence.

He expressed skepticism about the legality of the project and called for an investigation. 

"All of this is going to have to be investigated. That's our warning to all of these people participating in this scheming to manipulate taxpayer dollars and, of course, to destroy the people's house," the Democrat said. 

Clarification from the White House

However, the White House clarified that the project is entirely funded by private contributions, without any involvement of taxpayers' money. 

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt noted that Trump heard counsel from the architects and the construction companies who said that the East Wing to be modern and beautiful for many, many years to come. 

"For it to be a truly strong and stable structure, this phase one that we’re now in was necessary," she said.

"The president wants to do right by the people’s house. And so that’s exactly what he’s doing. It’s going to be much more stable, strong, secure, and more beautiful than ever once it’s complete," she added.