Trump Announces $200M White House Ballroom Funded by Private Donations
The White House has unveiled plans for a lavish new $200 million ballroom that will be constructed as part of a broader renovation of the East Wing, marking one of the most significant architectural additions to the presidential residence in decades.
The project, announced Thursday, will be privately funded through donations from President Donald Trump and unnamed contributors. Construction is scheduled to begin in September and is expected to be completed well before the end of Trump’s current term in January 2029, according to Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.
Renderings released by the White House show a grand interior inspired by classical design, with gold accents, chandeliers, and ornate columns. The ballroom will span approximately 90,000 square feet and accommodate up to 650 guests—more than triple the capacity of the existing East Room, which currently hosts many formal White House functions.
“This is a much-needed and exquisite addition,” said Leavitt. “It will eliminate the need for large, unsightly tents currently used for major events, including state dinners with world leaders.”
The ballroom will be integrated into a modernized East Wing, which currently houses offices for the First Lady and other key staff. Those offices, including that of First Lady Melania Trump, will be temporarily relocated during construction.
Trump has long expressed his desire to build a permanent, elegant event space at the White House. He previously offered $100 million for such a project during Barack Obama’s presidency—an idea the Obama administration declined.
Speaking at a White House event Thursday, Trump said, “There’s never been a president that’s good at ballrooms. I’m good at building things.”
Earlier this week, during a meeting in Scotland with European Council President Ursula von der Leyen, Trump said, “We’re building a great ballroom at the White House,” comparing it to the ballroom at his Turnberry golf resort.
White House renderings show the new ballroom will blend seamlessly with the building’s historic aesthetic. The expansion is being overseen in consultation with the Committee for the Preservation of the White House, a group responsible for safeguarding the residence’s historical integrity.
“I hope and trust that any proposed changes will honor and preserve the existing walls that have witnessed so much history,” said Leslie Greene Bowman, a longtime committee member.
Chief of Staff Susie Wiles emphasized the project’s commitment to preserving history: “The President and the Trump White House are fully committed to working with the appropriate organizations to ensure this addition reflects the legacy of the presidency and the American people.”
The East Wing renovation follows other Trump-era design changes, including new gold detailing in the Oval Office, the installation of large flagpoles, and the controversial transformation of the White House Rose Garden.
