White House unveils plans for new $200m ballroom

In a move that is as grand as it is historic, the White House has formally announced plans to construct a $200 million ballroom—a long-held dream of President Donald Trump. The new addition, which will be accompanied by a modernized East Wing, is set to begin construction this September, according to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.

The ballroom project, which will reportedly be entirely funded by private donations, including a substantial contribution from President Trump himself, marks one of the most significant structural expansions of the White House in decades. While the names of other donors remain undisclosed, officials say all funding will come from non-government sources, avoiding the use of taxpayer money.

The planned ballroom will be a massive 90,000 square feet in size and will feature lavish architectural details such as grand chandeliers, ornate columns, and decor in line with the White House’s neoclassical aesthetic. The ballroom will be able to seat approximately 650 guests, more than tripling the current capacity of the East Room, which accommodates around 200.

According to renderings released by the administration, the design will preserve the historic character of the White House while providing a functionally superior space for hosting formal events. The ballroom is intended to eliminate the frequent reliance on temporary tents—which have been described by Trump as “unsightly”—for state dinners and large-scale receptions, often attended by world leaders and dignitaries.

“It’s a much-needed and exquisite addition,” said Leavitt during Thursday’s press briefing. “It will provide future presidents with a dignified space that reflects the stature and traditions of our country.”

Chief of Staff Susie Wiles also emphasized that historic preservation remains a top priority. “The Trump White House is working closely with the proper organizations to ensure the historical integrity of the White House is maintained while building a ballroom that future generations of Americans can be proud of,” Wiles said in a formal statement.

This isn’t the first time President Trump has floated the idea of a White House ballroom. In fact, he offered to fund a $100 million ballroom during the Obama administration in 2016—a proposal that was swiftly dismissed by then-Press Secretary Josh Earnest, who stated the offer was “not seriously considered.” At the time, critics feared that such an expansion might include overt branding, such as a gold “Trump” sign on federal property—something Earnest publicly joked about.

But Trump never let go of the idea. On multiple occasions during his presidency and re-election campaign, he has publicly lamented the absence of a suitable ballroom at the White House, often comparing it unfavorably to event spaces at his private properties.

“There’s never been a president who understood ballrooms,” Trump said during a recent event at the White House. “I’m good at building things.”

He added that the existing system of erecting temporary tents for large-scale events was, in his words, “a disaster” and “not a pretty sight.”

Trump even brought up the project earlier this week during a meeting in Scotland with European Council President Ursula von der Leyen, saying, “We’re building a great ballroom at the White House,” while seated in a grand ballroom at his Turnberry golf resort. “I could take this one, drop it right down there, and it would be beautiful.”

Construction of the ballroom will involve temporary relocation of current East Wing offices, including that of First Lady Melania Trump. The modernized East Wing will be integrated into the project to allow a seamless architectural and functional transition.

Though critics have raised concerns about altering the historic White House structure, experts in preservation are cautiously optimistic. Leslie Greene Bowman, a long-time member of the Committee for the Preservation of the White House, commented, “The White House has a long history of adapting to the evolving needs of the presidency. I trust that any changes will honor and protect the original walls that hold so much of our democratic history.”

Bowman’s remarks reflect the delicate balance between innovation and preservation—one that this project will have to navigate carefully.

While the project is certainly bold in scope and grand in aesthetic, some see the ballroom as more than just a functional enhancement. For Trump, it may be a way to leave a lasting physical legacy at the nation's most symbolic residence—a concrete marker of his presence that future administrations will inherit.

Whether it’s seen as a genuine effort to improve presidential hosting or a vanity project disguised as public service, the new ballroom is set to become one of the most talked-about architectural additions to the White House in modern times.

The Trump administration has already made several aesthetic and structural updates to the White House, including the installation of large flagpoles, a redesigned Oval Office, and the controversial paving of the historic Rose Garden. The ballroom now joins that list as Trump seeks to reshape not just policy, but the very home of American executive power.

Construction is expected to be completed well before Trump’s current term ends in January 2029—an ambitious deadline for a project of this scale. But if there’s one thing President Trump is known for, it’s turning bold visions into towering realities.