Trump gives rare praise to persistent GOP foe after White House ballroom vote

"I would like to thank the hardworking Commissioners and Staff of the National Capital Planning Commission, who just voted overwhelmingly, 8-1, to approve the magnificent White House Ballroom now rising on this Hallowed Ground," Trump wrote on Truth Social.

"I am pleased to announce that even Board Member Senator Rand Paul, known as an extraordinarily difficult vote, voted a strong YES."

Trump and Paul have been sparring since the 2015 GOP primary, when they clashed during the first Republican debate in August 2015. The tension has flared since, including Trump calling Paul "sick Wacko" just in November. 

The ballroom still faces legal hurdles. On Tuesday, a federal judge halted the project, ruling that construction of the 90,000-square-foot ballroom must receive Congressional approval.

The National Capital Planning Commission proceeded with the vote despite the ruling. The commission chair, Will Scharf, said at the start of Thursday's meeting that the judge's ruling only prevented construction of the project.

"We'll move past that and continue our consideration of the East Wing modernization project," he said.

The ballroom, which is being funded by private donors, is slated to be completed by 2028. However, the project's end date remains unknown as the Trump administration plans to appeal the judge's decision.