Trump to Build $200M White House Ballroom
President Trump has unveiled plans for a brand-new $200 million ballroom on the White House grounds, fulfilling a long-standing wish to create a proper event space that doesn’t require “a large and unsightly tent.” The 90,000-square-foot ballroom will seat up to 650 guests, which is more than triple the capacity of the East Room where major White House functions are typically held. The ballroom will replace the current East Wing, which has been repeatedly renovated since its construction in 1902.
The project, set to begin this September, will be privately funded through donations from Trump and unnamed contributors. “No president knew how to build a ballroom,” Trump said at a press event, later adding, “I’m good at building things.” McCrery Architects will lead the design with classical elegance in mind, while Clark Construction and AECOM will handle the build and engineering. Temporary relocations will be made for East Wing offices, including those of First Lady Melania Trump.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt called the addition “much needed and exquisite,” and renderings reveal ornate interiors complete with chandeliers and classical columns. Chief of Staff Susie Wiles added, “The president and the Trump White House are fully committed to preserving the history of the White House while building a beautiful ballroom that can be enjoyed by future administrations and generations to come.”
