President Donald Trump has greenlit the construction of a $200 million, 90,000-square-foot state ballroom on the East Wing of the presidential residence, with construction set to begin in September.
The Trump administration announced the controversial project on Thursday, stating that Trump and “other patriot donors” would fund the massive addition, although the White House did not disclose how much Trump would personally contribute or identify any of the other financiers.
The ballroom — which will accommodate up to 650 guests — represents Trump’s latest and most ambitious effort to leave a permanent architectural imprint on the White House, echoing the opulent aesthetic of his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. The current primary venue for large events, the East Room, holds only 200 guests.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt described the ballroom as a “much-needed and exquisite addition,” allowing the administration to host state functions without resorting to temporary outdoor structures. “This will enable us to honor world leaders in a grand setting worthy of American greatness,” Leavitt said, unveiling artists’ renderings featuring gilded chandeliers, towering classical columns, and lavish interiors.
Trump, a former real estate mogul with a long-standing obsession with gold décor and grand venues, has previously modified parts of the White House — including adding gold leaf to the Oval Office, replacing the Rose Garden’s lawn with a stone patio, and erecting large flagpoles on both the north and south lawns.
Chief of Staff Susie Wiles praised Trump’s hands-on vision, calling him a “builder at heart” with an “extraordinary eye for detail.” She assured reporters that the project would respect the historic integrity of the White House while introducing a feature “to be enjoyed by future presidents and generations of Americans.”
