Washington, D.C. – October 22, 2025 – In a move blending presidential ambition with architectural flair, President Donald J. Trump has broken ground on what he calls the “big, beautiful White House Ballroom,” a $250 million addition set to transform the East Wing into a venue fit for grand state affairs. Announced in July and now under active construction, the project marks the most significant expansion of the People’s House since President Harry Truman’s gut renovation in the late 1940s.
Construction crews descended on the White House grounds this week, dramatically demolishing part of the East Wing’s facade to make way for the 90,000-square-foot space. Originally designed to seat 650 guests, Trump revealed at a recent donor dinner that the ballroom’s capacity has ballooned to 999 people—nearly doubling the size of the main White House residence itself. The opulent design, often likened to a fusion of Caesars Palace extravagance and Versailles elegance, will feature bulletproof glass, a large theater, and advanced facilities capable of hosting inaugurations, state dinners, and galas. Trump, addressing supporters last week, boasted that the ballroom fulfills a 150-year presidential dream, easing the strain of cramped event spaces in the historic mansion.
The East Wing, traditionally the domain of the First Lady’s office and social operations, sits atop an underground presidential bunker—a detail underscoring the project’s logistical complexities. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has assured the public that the core residence remains untouched, with work confined to the wing’s perimeter. Yet, the scale has sparked skepticism, including from former Republican Congressman Joe Walsh, who decried it as an “utter desecration” of the iconic landmark on social media.
Funding the extravaganza is entirely private, sparing taxpayers amid a government shutdown and economic headwinds—a point Trump emphasized in a Monday social media post. Key contributors include Lockheed Martin, which pledged over $10 million, hailing the project as a symbol of American ideals. YouTube, a Google subsidiary, diverted $22 million from a recent settlement of Trump’s 2021 lawsuit over his account suspension to the cause, with Google committing at least $5 million more. Attendees at Trump’s donor dinner—representing tech giants like Amazon, Apple, Meta, Microsoft, and Palantir—were reportedly encouraged to donate up to $25 million each, fueling speculation about corporate influence in a “pay-to-play” era. The president’s personal contribution remains undisclosed.
Adding to the controversy, the White House bypassed formal approval from the National Capital Planning Commission, the body overseeing D.C. federal projects, by appointing loyalist Will Scharf to lead it. Critics, including Democrats, question the timing and ethics, while Trump allies defend it as a necessary upgrade in a tradition of White House tweaks—from Theodore Roosevelt’s West Wing to Franklin D. Roosevelt’s East Wing origins.
Slated for completion by the end of Trump’s term, the ballroom promises to redefine White House entertaining. Whether it becomes a legacy of luxury or a lightning rod for debate, one thing is clear: in Trump’s America, even renovations arrive with flair.
SOURCES:
What to know about Trump’s $250 million White House ballroom | AP News
A brief history of White House renovations, expansions — and now demolitions | CNN Politics
What to know about Trump’s plan to build $250m White House ballroom | Construction News | Al Jazeera
White House’s East Wing partially demolished as work begins on Trump’s $250m ballroom | Donald Trump | The Guardian
Who’s funding Trump’s $250M ballroom renovation?
9 things to know about the $250 million ballroom Trump is adding to the White House | PBS News
Who is paying for Donald Trump’s new White House ballroom?
White House demolition for ballroom project draws questions of “Is this allowed?” – Axios Washington D.C.
