White House to launch $200mn ballroom extravaganza

Trump Builds $200M Ballroom for White House

President Donald Trump is set to add a monumental ballroom to the White House, a project that could be the largest renovation of the executive mansion in over a century.

Budget and Funding

• Trump and unnamed donors will cover the $200 million cost.
• The White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed the funding at a press briefing.

Design and Capacity

• The venue will cover more than 8,000 square meters (90,000 square feet).
• It can seat 650 guests for state dinners and official receptions.
• Model plans show a white structure with tall windows and columns echoing the main White House building.
• It will replace the East Wing, currently home to the U.S. First Lady’s offices.

Construction Timeline

• Work will begin in September.
• Trump expects completion well before his second term ends in January 2029.
• The ballroom is aimed at hosting grand state dinners for foreign heads of state, replacing the temporary tents that have been used in the past.

Inspirations and Aesthetic Choices

• Trump has cited his own properties as model designs.
• The ballroom will draw from the lavish ballroom at the Turnberry golf resort in Scotland.
• It will also incorporate elements from Mar-a-Lago’s Florida mansion, which has influenced the broader White House remodel.
• Trump recently overhauled the Rose Garden and is paving the area where official events are often held.

Historical Context

• Previous major expansions include President Theodore Roosevelt’s work at the start of the 20th century and President Harry Truman’s construction between 1948 and 1952.
• Unlike Truman, the current plan will alter the external structure of the White House.

Trump’s makeover, which includes a gold-splashed Oval Office and two huge American flags outside the historic residence, is shaping into one of the most significant changes at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue since the early 1900s.