Trump to build $200 million White House ballroom through private funding

The new ballroom will be privately funded by US President Donald Trump and other donors; the venue is expected to seat 650 guests, replacing temporary South Lawn tents

Nearly a decade after first floating the idea during his 2016 presidential campaign, US President Donald Trump is set to fulfil a personal and presidential ambition: the construction of a grand ballroom on the White House grounds. It is estimated to cost around $200 million.

 

The 90,000-square-foot ballroom, part of a larger renovation of the East Wing, will be funded by President Donald Trump and other ‘unnamed donors’. In a statement released by the White House on Thursday (local time), the Trump administration announced plans to break ground this September.

 

Ballroom to be a permanent venue for functions

The new ballroom, which will seat approximately 650 guests, is intended to provide a permanent venue for large-scale official functions. Currently, most formal events are held in the East Room, which accommodates around 200 people. For larger events, temporary tents are typically set up on the South Lawn — a solution the administration has described as both impractical and visually unappealing.

 

 

The ballroom will be constructed adjacent to a modernised East Wing, which houses offices including those of First Lady Melania Trump. These offices will be temporarily relocated during construction.

 

Trump’s wish to build a ballroom in White House

Donald Trump first proposed building a White House ballroom during his 2016 campaign, and reportedly offered $100 million to fund it under the Obama administration—a proposal that was declined. Trump has since repeated his interest in the project, describing the use of tents for state events as a “disaster.”

 

“President Trump is a builder at heart,” said White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles. “He has an extraordinary eye for detail, and he is determined to leave a lasting legacy for future administrations and generations of Americans.”

 

Construction firms appointed for $200 mn project

Design renderings released by the White House show a neoclassical structure with ornate interiors, chandeliers, and columns, intended to match the architectural character of the main residence. McCrery Architects will lead the design, with Clark Construction as the contractor and AECOM providing engineering support.

 

“[US] Presidents since Harry Truman have grappled with the limitations of the White House in terms of event hosting,” said Jim McCrery, CEO of the firm. “It is a great honour to work on a structure that respects the building’s historic character while providing a space truly worthy of major occasions.”

 

Construction to be completed before 2029

Officials say the project is expected to be completed “well before” the end of Trump’s current term in January 2029.

 

The renovation marks the latest in a series of White House changes under Trump, including the addition of large flagpoles, new interior decor, and a reconfiguration of the Rose Garden. 

Historic preservation advocates have called for the project to respect the legacy and architecture of the White House. “I hope and trust that any proposed changes will honour and preserve the existing walls that have witnessed so much history,” Leslie Greene Bowman of the Committee for the Preservation of the White House told the BBC.