Summary
- White House to build a $200 million ballroom in the
East Wing. - Construction begins September 2025, funded by Trump and
donors. - Ballroom seats 650, tripling East Room event capacity.
- Design matches White House architecture, including gold
and columns. - East Wing staff temporarily relocated during the
construction period.
Press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Thursday
that work on a roughly 90,000-square-foot White House state ballroom that can
accommodate 650 people will start in September. The White House website states
that the $200 million refurbishment will be funded by Trump and other
“patriot donors.”
Trump and previous presidents have had sizable
gatherings at the White House in spacious tents erected on the South Lawn.
According to Leavitt, the East Wing will also undergo “modernization,” which calls for the relocation of its
offices, including the first lady’s office, while work is underway.
In a series of recent White House renovations
under Trump, this is the most current and costly project. Trump ordered the White
House Rose Garden’s grass to be paved over and replaced with a hard-surfaced
patio earlier this year. Trump has also been in charge of installing new
flagpoles on the North and South lawns and renovating the Oval Office’s
interior to a gold standard.
Construction is expected to be finished by the
conclusion of Trump’s term, according to Leavitt.
How does the $200 million renovation compare to
previous White House projects?
The project is funded privately by President
Trump and other donors, rather than through federal funds.
It represents a rare large-scale addition to the
historically significant White House grounds, involving careful architectural
design to match classic styles.
The scale of 90,000 square feet is substantial,
with ornate features like gold chandeliers, Corinthian columns, coffered
ceilings, and Palladian facades reflecting Trump’s aesthetic taste.
While prior presidents have made notable
renovations mostly related to interior redecorations and updates (for example,
Trump himself spent around $1.75 million updating wallpapers, rugs, and decor),
this ballroom construction marks one of the largest physical expansions since
Harry Truman’s complete overhaul of the White House in 1952.
