Inside Trump's $250 Million White House Ballroom Project: Construction Begins with East Wing Demolition

The ballroom project, funded entirely through private donations with no public money involved according to Trump, has officially begun construction.

Washington:

Construction crews have started work on the $250 million ballroom that President Donald Trump is adding to the White House, beginning with the demolition of the East Wing's facade where the new structure will be built.

Initially, the Republican president and White House officials had stated that no demolition would occur during the construction process, which has proven inaccurate.

The new ballroom will span an impressive 90,000 square feet, nearly doubling the size of the main White House building, with Trump announcing it will have capacity for 999 people.

Trump declared on social media that taxpayers won't bear any costs for the ballroom, as it's being funded privately by "many generous Patriots, Great American Companies, and, yours truly."

Here are key details about this significant White House addition:

Trump has expressed that the White House needs a larger entertainment space, frequently criticizing the East Room's limited capacity of approximately 200 people as inadequate. He has disapproved of the traditional practice of hosting state dinners and major events in temporary structures on the South Lawn.

The White House maintains that the project will be entirely privately funded. While officials hosted a dinner for donors in the East Room last week, they haven't released a comprehensive list of contributors or breakdown of funding sources.

Notably, $22 million came from YouTube, a Google subsidiary, as part of a settlement related to a 2021 lawsuit Trump filed against the company.

The White House has not disclosed how much Trump himself is contributing to the project.

The East Wing, traditionally dedicated to social functions and the first lady's operations, is located across East Executive Avenue from the Treasury Department and serves as the entrance point for guests attending White House events.

President Trump and his chief spokesperson Karoline Leavitt had initially stated during summer that the White House structure would remain intact during ballroom construction, with Trump saying, "It'll be near it but not touching it," and Leavitt adding, "Nothing will be torn down."

This proved incorrect as demolition began.

The White House later explained that some demolition was necessary because the East Wing is being modernized as part of the overall ballroom project.

Trump is proceeding with construction despite lacking approval from the National Capital Planning Commission, the executive agency responsible for overseeing government building construction and major renovations in the region.

Trump appointed Will Scharf, a top White House aide, to head the commission. Scharf has distinguished between demolition work and rebuilding, claiming the commission's approval is only required for the latter.

According to Trump's description, the space will function as a pre-dinner gathering area where guests can socialize, enjoy drinks and appetizers before proceeding to the ballroom for dinner. He mentioned that a set of windows will be removed to create passage between the existing building and the new ballroom.

Renderings released by the White House indicate the design bears strong resemblance to the opulent gilded ballroom at Mar-a-Lago, Trump's private Florida club and residence.

The project has expanded since its initial announcement, growing from accommodating 650 seated guests to holding 999 people—large enough for an inauguration if needed, according to Trump at a recent donor dinner. He added that the windows will be bulletproof.

The White House states the ballroom will be completed before Trump's second term concludes in January 2029, which represents an ambitious timeline.

Yes, Trump has already made numerous changes to the White House. He has extensively redecorated the Oval Office with portraits, busts, and gold-toned elements. He transformed the Rose Garden into a stone-covered patio, installed tall flagpoles on the north and south lawns, and adorned an exterior wall with portraits of all presidents except his immediate predecessor, Democrat Joe Biden.

Trump also mentioned renovating the bathroom in the historic Lincoln Bedroom within the private quarters and installing marble flooring in a corridor leading to the South Lawn.

Presidents throughout history have made additions to the White House since construction began in 1792 for various reasons, and Trump's aides position his ballroom project as following this established tradition.

Many previous presidential modifications faced initial criticism for being excessive or too expensive but eventually gained acceptance, according to the White House Historical Association.

Thomas Jefferson added the east and west colonnades.

Andrew Jackson constructed the North Portico facing Pennsylvania Avenue, complementing the South Portico that James Monroe had added after the original mansion was rebuilt following British destruction during the War of 1812.

Theodore Roosevelt built the West Wing to provide dedicated space for the president and key staff, while Franklin D. Roosevelt added the East Wing, which evolved to house the first lady's staff and social functions.

One of the most significant renovations occurred under Harry Truman, who ordered a complete interior gutting when the mansion was found structurally unsound, a controversial project lasting from 1948 to 1952 that included adding a balcony to the second floor of the South Portico.

Other notable changes include John F. Kennedy's creation of the Rose Garden and Richard Nixon's conversion of an indoor swimming pool (originally built for FDR's physical therapy) into a workspace for the expanding White House press corps.