Story perspectives

White House Scrambles Over GOP Nominee Amid $1B Ballroom Funding

5/13/2026

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Summary

Story summary

White House aides are scrambling to manage Republican nomination uncertainty amid criticism of a $1 billion ballroom allocation.
U.S. President Donald Trump polled House Garden dinner guests about Republican candidates, naming J.D. Vance as presumptive nominee and Marco Rubio.
Trump’s snap polls showed Mar-a-Lago donors favoring Marco Rubio and law-enforcement officers favoring J.D. Vance.
A House GOP spending package earmarks $1 billion for Trump’s ballroom project, raising fiscal concerns.

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Story summary

White House aides are scrambling to manage Republican nomination uncertainty amid criticism of a $1 billion ballroom allocation.
U.S. President Donald Trump polled House Garden dinner guests about Republican candidates, naming J.D. Vance as presumptive nominee and Marco Rubio.
Trump’s snap polls showed Mar-a-Lago donors favoring Marco Rubio and law-enforcement officers favoring J.D. Vance.
A House GOP spending package earmarks $1 billion for Trump’s ballroom project, raising fiscal concerns.