New Delhi, Jan. 25 -- US President Donald Trump has defended plans to construct a new ballroom at the White House, calling it a "great, big, beautiful gift" to the United States and blasting a lawsuit seeking to halt the project.

In a lengthy post on Truth Social, Trump said the ballroom - estimated to cost between $300 million and $400 million - would be built entirely with private funds and no taxpayer money.

"This is a GIFT (ZERO taxpayer funding!) to the United States of America," Trump wrote, adding that the project is being funded with "Great American Patriots' money."

Trump said the ballroom would address a long-standing need for a permanent, secure venue for large state events, noting that previous administrations had relied on...