Trump warns Congress is ‘becoming antisemitic’ at WH Hanukkah event, bumps ballroom price to $400M

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump used a White House Hanukkah reception Tuesday night, December 16, to air concerns that Congress is “becoming antisemitic.” He also revealed that the long-discussed White House ballroom could now carry a $400 million price tag.

The president spent much of his remarks celebrating what he described as his achievements for Israel. But midway through the speech, he warned attendees that Israel’s influence in Washington is waning.

“I will always be a friend and a champion to the Jewish people,” Trump told the crowd. “If you go back 10, 12, 15 years ago, at the most, the strongest lobby in Washington was the Jewish Lobby. It was Israel. That’s no longer true.”

Trump sounds alarm on antisemitism in Congress

Trump went on to single out members of Congress whom he accused of fostering anti-Israel sentiment.

“You have to be very careful. You have a Congress in particular, which is becoming antisemitic. You have AOC plus three; you have those people. Ilhan Omar, she hates Jewish people. And you have to be very careful, because there’s been a big change,” Trump alleged.

He suggested that hostility toward Israel is spreading on Capitol Hill. “You have a lot of people in Congress that don’t like Israel,” Trump added. “They hate Israel … and obviously it’s getting progressively worse, less so in the Senate, but the Senate is starting also. You get glimmers when I’m in the back rooms talking to people.”

The president also condemned efforts to downplay Hamas’ October 7, 2023, massacre and a deadly attack on a Jewish celebration in Bondi Beach, Australia, that took place over the weekend.

“Please be vigilant and careful,” he pleaded.

From antisemitism to architecture

Trump eventually pivoted to the long-planned White House ballroom and revealed what appeared to be a much higher cost. “A $400 million [ballroom],” Trump said. “It’ll be the most beautiful ballroom, and it’ll handle inaugurations. It’s got five-inch-thick glass windows. Impenetrable by anything but a howitzer. It’s impenetrable.”

He went on to joke about the security features and his own safety while speaking there. “Now I will say, if I’m up making the speech some day and I hear ding, ding, ding, I’m out of there,” he added. “I think it’ll be the greatest ballroom anywhere in the world.”

Earlier Tuesday, a federal judge rejected a bid by preservationists seeking a temporary restraining order to halt construction of the ballroom. “But I said, ‘Who else but in our country would sue to stop a $400 million beautiful ballroom?’” Trump said.

White House ballroom price tag, Biden jab

When the White House first unveiled the ballroom design over the summer, officials pegged the cost at $200 million. That estimate later rose to $300 million.

Tuesday night appeared to mark the first time Trump publicly floated a $400 million figure, basically doubling the original estimate. 

Despite the detailed notes that Trump said he relied on to ensure he covered all of his Israel-related accomplishments, he still veered off script with some jokes. At one point, Trump reflected on the dangers of a public stumble.

“You know, when you fall, it’s not good for politics,” he mused. “We had a man that fell a lot. I don’t want to talk too much, because I’ll have my day I’m sure," he quipped, clearly alluding to former President Joe Biden.

Trump then imagined the press's reaction to any misstep. “They’re waiting, the press,” he added. “Oh, would they like to see Trump trip off the stage. I would never live it down.”