The US military is building a “massive” bunker beneath Donald Trump’s new White House extension, the President has revealed.
On Air Force One on Sunday, the Mr Trump said the Pentagon was “building a massive complex under the ballroom, and that’s under construction, and we’re doing very well, so we’re ahead of schedule”.
The subterranean structure will include defences against drone attacks and other threats – just as the States’ war with Iran reaches its second month.
“It’s part of it… The ballroom essentially becomes a shed for what’s being built under the military [complex] including [protection] from drones and including from any other thing.
“The glass on the windows is extremely thick – it’s high-grade bulletproof glass,” Mr Trump explained.
His remarks follow a number of unsettling drone incidents on American soil.
Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana was forced to issue a shelter-in-place order March 9 after “a report of an unmanned aerial system operating over the installation”.
Barksdale houses America’s hulking B-52 bombers and is vital in the command and control of the US Air Force’s nuclear capabilities.
Multiple waves of 12-15 drones were later revealed to have operated over sensitive areas of the installation.
Donald Trump revealed plans for the bunker aboard Air Force One
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Waves of drones targeted Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana, which houses America’s hulking B-52 bombers
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GETTYThe UAVs displayed “non-commercial signal characteristics, long-range control links and resistance to jamming,” a security document said.
Back in DC, the proposed ballroom will span 90,000 square feet and hold as many as 1,000 guests.
Its budget has risen from £160 million to £400 million.
Mr Trump gave approval in October for a wing to be demolished to create space for receptions and state dinners.
The President has long raged at how the East Room, currently the largest entertaining space, can only accommodate around 200 people.
PICTURED: Architect Shalom Baranes points to a rendering during a public hearing regarding the White House ballroom construction at the National Capital Planning Commission
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This limitation forces guests at state dinners to be seated in marquees on the lawn or in additional rooms.
“For 150 years, they’ve wanted to build a ballroom at the White House,” Mr Trump said.
And just days ago, he directly referenced King Charles III’s upcoming State Visit as a reason for the new extension.
“When the president of China, France, when somebody comes over from the UK, including the King – we have the King coming over very shortly, King Charles – we can have, like, a large room, because the White House is incredible, but it never had a ballroom,” he said.
Mr Trump directly referenced King Charles III’s upcoming State Visit as a reason for the new extension
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PAThe design has sparked controversy from Trump critics – the structure is set to overshadow the executive residence and obstruct the view from Capitol Hill along Pennsylvania Avenue.
Hillary Clinton, Mr Trump’s failed 2016 election rival, criticised the plans on social media, stating he was “destroying” the White House, which was “not his house”.
In October, the President dismissed members of the Commission of Fine Arts who were reviewing the proposals – with a White House official indicating he sought members “more aligned” with his “America First policies”.
The commission later unanimously approved the plans following a 12-minute discussion.
The National Capital Planning Commission is due to hold a final vote on the project on Thursday.
