Republicans turn ballroom fight into referendum on Trump's safety

"“It’s a security-related measure,” Thune told reporters on Monday. “You’ve got a president where there have been three assassination attempts in just the last two years.” Thune said the funding is intended to secure the new facility and ensure the Secret Service has the resources needed to protect the president."

"House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) will seek to heal growing friction with his Senate counterparts in remarks at Tuesday's Senate GOP lunch, Axios reported Monday. Johnson is expected to stress open lines of communication as Republicans gear up for reconciliation packages 2.0 and 3.0. It will mark Johnson's first appearance at a Senate GOP lunch this year."

"U.S. Secret Service director Sean Curran will also join the lunch as the Senate considers funding for presidential security and the need for security enhancements in the new ballroom, two sources told Axios. Thune's comments seem as directed at GOP holdouts as they are at Democrats."

"Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) told reporters: “It was my understanding it was supposed to be paid for by private donations. That's what the president has said.” “I have a feeling it may either not be in the bill or it may not pass the Byrd test, but we'll know probably more next week,” said Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), who prefers to use private donations for the ballroom. “They've become ballroom Republicans,” said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.)."

Senate Majority Leader John Thune said funding is intended to secure a new facility and provide the Secret Service with resources needed to protect the president. He cited three assassination attempts in the past two years as justification for the security-related measure. House Speaker Mike Johnson is expected to address Senate GOP lunch attendees by emphasizing open communication as Republicans prepare reconciliation packages 2.0 and 3.0. Secret Service director Sean Curran is also expected to attend as the Senate considers presidential security funding and enhancements for a new ballroom. Some Republicans questioned whether the ballroom funding should be paid by private donations and whether it would meet procedural requirements, while Schumer criticized Republicans for opposing the measure.

Read at Axios