US President Donald Trump is set to fulfill a long-standing personal ambition with plans to build a $200 million ballroom at the White House a project he has repeatedly touted since before taking office. The White House confirmed on Thursday that construction will begin in September, with Trump and unnamed private donors funding the project entirely.
Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt described the upcoming structure as a “much needed and exquisite addition” to the executive mansion. The new ballroom, expected to cover about 90,000 square feet with a seating capacity of approximately 650 guests, will be built adjacent to a modernised East Wing the section of the White House that currently houses the offices of First Lady Melania Trump and key staff.
“This will eliminate the need for large and unsightly tents during state dinners and major events,” Leavitt said, noting that the current East Room can only seat about 200 people.
Trump has long voiced frustration over the White House’s lack of a grand ballroom suitable for large gatherings. “There’s never been a president that’s good at ballrooms,” he said at a Thursday press event. “I’m good at building things.” He criticised the current use of temporary tents for major events, calling them “a disaster” and “not a pretty sight.”
Trump’s ballroom ambition dates back to 2016 when he famously offered to donate $100 million to build one during the Obama administration. The proposal was rejected at the time, with then-White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest dismissing it as inappropriate. “I’m not sure that it would be appropriate to have a shiny gold Trump sign, on any part of the White House,” Earnest said.
The White House now says that architectural renderings show a structure aligned with the building’s historic style complete with chandeliers, ornate columns, and marble finishes preserving its historic integrity. Chief of Staff Susie Wiles emphasised that the Trump administration is “committed to preserving the White House’s legacy while creating a beautiful addition for future presidents.”
Construction is expected to conclude “long before” the end of Trump’s current term in January 2029.
While in Scotland earlier this week, Trump even joked with European Council President Ursula von der Leyen that “we’re building a great ballroom at the White House.” He added, “I could take this one” referring to the ballroom at his Turnberry golf resort “drop it right down there, and it would be beautiful.”
White House officials have not revealed the full list of private contributors, though they emphasised that the project will not be funded by taxpayers.
According to preservation expert Leslie Greene Bowman, who has advised four US presidents, “The White House has a history of expansion to accommodate the changing needs of the nation’s chief executive. I hope and trust that any proposed changes will honor and preserve the existing walls that have witnessed so much history.”
Temporary offices in the East Wing, including Melania Trump’s, will be relocated for the duration of the construction.
Erizia Rubyjeana
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