White House to build $200m ballroom before Trump’s 2029 term end

WEB DESK: The White House is set to commence construction on a new $200 million ballroom, scheduled to be completed before Donald Trump’s current term concludes in early 2029. According to press secretary Karoline Leavitt, the facility will span approximately 90,000 square feet (8,300 square meters) and accommodate up to 650 guests.

This development marks the latest modification to “the People’s House” since Trump’s return to office in January. Notably, it will be the first structural alteration to the White House itself since the addition of the Truman Balcony in 1948.

Currently, the White House cannot host large-scale events due to its limited capacity of around 200 people in the East Room. Trump highlighted in a phone interview with NBC News that hosting sizable gatherings involves ferrying guests to tents on the South Lawn, which becomes impractical in bad weather. “When it rains or snows, it’s a disaster,” he remarked, noting tents are “a football field away from the White House.” Trump emphasized that a new ballroom has long been requested, stating, “I’m doing a lot of improvements. I’ll be building a beautiful ballroom. They wanted it for many, many years.”

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Funding for the project will come from Trump himself and other “patriot donors,” according to the White House website, with Trump calling it “his gift to the country.” The design will be handled by McCrery Architects, with Clark Construction leading the build and AECOM providing engineering services. The new ballroom will be constructed separately from the main White House building, replacing the current East Wing.

This project aligns with Trump’s penchant for high-profile real estate enhancements. While previous modifications, such as paving parts of the Rose Garden or adding gold filigree, are easily reversible, the new ballroom is a permanent addition that is expected to endure well beyond Trump’s presidency.