WASHINGTON – The White House revealed plans on Thursday for a $200 million ballroom, with construction set to begin in September. The venue should be open for events before President Donald Trump’s term expires in early 2029.
This marks the latest update to the “people’s house” since Trump returned to office in January and the first major structural alteration since the Truman balcony was added decades ago.
Trump has enhanced the Oval Office with gold accents and cherubs and installed prominent flagpoles on the north and south lawns to display the American flag. Workers are also completing the transformation of the Rose Garden’s lawn to stone.
For some time, Trump has advocated for building a ballroom, arguing that the White House lacks sufficient space for large gatherings. Unlike previous administrations that used lawn tents for state dinners hosting hundreds, Trump prefers not to entertain guests under temporary setups. The current White House’s largest venue, the East Room, can only fit around 200 guests.
The newly announced ballroom, spanning 90,000 square feet, will be located where the East Wing is currently positioned and will offer seating for 650 people. Offices currently residing in the East Wing, including the first lady’s, will be moved during the building process.
“President Trump, inherently a builder with a keen eye for design,” stated White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles. She mentioned that Trump and the White House are “dedicated” to collaborating with appropriate groups to maintain the White House’s historic essence while constructing a beautiful ballroom for future administrations and generations to enjoy.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Thursday at her briefing that Trump and other donors have committed to raising the approximately $200 million in construction costs. She did not name any of the other donors.
Renderings of what the future ballroom will look like were posted on the White House website.
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