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.