[Video below.] President Donald Trump on Tuesday stood by the scale and expense of the planned White House ballroom, insisting the project is progressing efficiently while sharply rebuking a reporter who questioned its scope.

Speaking to reporters before departing for China, Trump said the ballroom is both larger than initially planned and financially on track. “We have a ballroom that’s under budget. I’ve doubled the size of it because we obviously need that,” Trump told reporters before departing to China. “And we’re right now on budget, under budget and ahead of schedule.”

When asked again about the decision to expand the project, Trump responded with a personal jab at the questioner. “I doubled the size of it, you dumb person. You are not a smart person.”

Plans for the ballroom have shifted since Trump first unveiled the proposal last summer, with both its size and estimated cost changing over time. The structure is set to replace the East Wing, which has already been demolished as part of the project.

Despite criticism over the growing price tag, Trump has dismissed concerns by emphasizing that the ballroom will not rely on taxpayer funds, saying wealthy donors will cover the full cost. He initially projected the project at $200 million, though estimates have since climbed to roughly $400 million.

The issue has also surfaced in Congress, where Senate Republicans included $1 billion for ballroom-related security measures in a budget reconciliation package. However, Senate Homeland Security Committee Chairman Rand Paul said Monday that the provision may ultimately be removed before the bill reaches a vote on the Senate floor.

White House officials met with Senate Republicans during a Tuesday lunch to walk through the proposed funding in detail, outlining how the $1 billion would be allocated.

According to materials presented at the meeting, the funding would cover a range of security upgrades, including “hardening” the White House complex, a visitors screening facility, training, enhancements for protectee security, evolving threats and technology and events of national significance.

Trump and several Republican allies have increasingly pointed to security concerns to justify the project, particularly in the aftermath of the shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner late last month.

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{Matzav.com}