The White House will build a massive $200 million ballroom with private funding from President Trump and other donors. The 650-seat venue aims to replace outdoor tents used for major events.
President Trump has finally gotten approval for his long-desired White House ballroom project. The administration announced Thursday that construction will begin in September on a $200 million addition to the East Wing.
The new ballroom will seat 650 people and span 90,000 square feet. This is three times larger than the current East Room, which holds only 200 guests for formal events.
Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt called the project a “much needed and exquisite addition” to the White House. She said Trump and anonymous donors will pay for the entire cost through private funding.
Trump has pushed for this ballroom since 2016. During Barack Obama’s presidency, he offered $100 million for the project. Obama rejected the proposal at the time.
“There’s never been a President that’s good at ballrooms,” Trump said Thursday. “I’m good at building things.”
The current setup forces the White House to use large tents on the South Lawn for major events. Trump called this arrangement “a disaster” and said “it’s not a pretty sight.”
The new ballroom will eliminate the need for these temporary tents. State dinners with world leaders and other large ceremonies can take place indoors year-round.
Construction will affect the East Wing, where First Lady Melania Trump has her offices. Staff will move to temporary locations during the building process.
The project includes modernizing the entire East Wing alongside the ballroom addition. Renderings show the new space will match the White House’s classic architecture with chandeliers and ornate columns.
Leslie Greene Bowman serves on the Committee for the Preservation of the White House. She told the BBC that expansions have happened before to meet changing needs.
“I hope and trust that any proposed changes will honor and preserve the existing walls that have witnessed so much history,” Bowman said. “They are precious vessels of our legacy as a democracy.”
Trump has already made several changes to the White House grounds. He installed two large flagpoles, added gold decorations to the Oval Office, and paved over parts of the famous Rose Garden.
Earlier this week, Trump mentioned the ballroom project during a meeting with European Council President Ursula Van der Leyen in Scotland. He was speaking from his own ballroom at Turnberry golf resort.
“No president knew how to build a ballroom,” Trump told Van der Leyen. “I could take this one, drop it right down there, and it would be beautiful.”
Chief of Staff Susie Wiles said the administration is committed to preserving White House history. The ballroom will serve future presidents and generations of Americans, according to her statement.
The White House expects to finish construction well before Trump’s term ends in January 2029. The timeline suggests the ballroom could host events within the next few years.
This project represents the largest addition to the White House in decades. It shows Trump’s focus on upgrading the presidential residence during his second term.
The private funding approach avoids using taxpayer money for the expansion. This addresses potential criticism about government spending on luxury amenities during the project.