Trump Builds $250 Million White House Ballroom for 999 Guests

Construction has officially begun on Donald Trump’s 90,000-square-foot White House ballroom, a massive new addition that will nearly double the size of the main White House building. The Trump White House ballroom project, valued at around $250 million, has already generated intense public discussion due to its scale, cost, and the decision to demolish part of the East Wing to make room for the lavish new structure.

According to Trump, the White House ballroom will be entirely funded through private donations — meaning no public money will be used. “Not a dime from taxpayers,” Trump said on social media, adding that the Trump ballroom project is supported by “many generous Patriots, Great American Companies, and yours truly.” The president said the new space will accommodate 999 people, describing it as a long-needed upgrade to the White House’s entertainment facilities.

The Trump White House ballroom will replace parts of the East Wing, the traditional home for the First Lady’s offices and social events. Initial White House statements had promised that “nothing will be torn down,” but that assurance turned out to be inaccurate as demolition began this week. Trump’s spokesperson confirmed that the East Wing’s modernization is now part of the larger ballroom construction project, which aims to create a more modern and spacious venue for state events, dinners, and receptions.

Renderings released by the administration show the Trump White House ballroom featuring gilded interiors inspired by Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. With bulletproof windows, grand chandeliers, and expansive dining areas, the ballroom at the White House is expected to be a luxurious space for official functions and private gatherings. Trump has said it will be “the grandest ballroom in American history,” designed to host major state events, galas, and even presidential inaugurations if needed.

Funding for the Trump White House ballroom is coming from several sources. The administration confirmed that $22 million came from YouTube, a Google subsidiary, as part of a 2021 lawsuit settlement. However, the White House has not released the full list of donors or the exact amount Trump himself has contributed. Officials said more transparency would follow “at a later stage,” though this has fueled speculation and criticism about who is financing the massive White House ballroom project.

Trump has argued that the addition of the White House ballroom follows a long tradition of presidential renovations and expansions. “Presidents have always built — Jefferson, Roosevelt, Truman — they all added to the White House,” he said, defending the scale of the project. Indeed, previous leaders have made major changes: Theodore Roosevelt added the West Wing, Franklin D. Roosevelt built the East Wing, and Harry Truman oversaw a complete internal reconstruction after the structure became unsafe in the late 1940s.

Still, the Trump ballroom project has raised eyebrows for its size and timing. At 90,000 square feet, it will dwarf the main White House residence, making it one of the largest additions in over a century. The White House claims the ballroom will be completed before the end of Trump’s second term in January 2029, though construction experts say that’s an ambitious goal given the project’s complexity and the regulatory approvals still pending.

The National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC), which oversees federal construction in Washington, D.C., has not yet formally approved the ballroom design. Trump appointed Will Scharf, a senior White House aide, to head the commission. Scharf maintains that only reconstruction—not demolition—requires NCPC vetting, a distinction critics argue is being used to sidestep oversight of the Trump White House ballroom.

Beyond politics, the White House ballroom project carries emotional symbolism for Trump’s presidency. To his supporters, it reflects his vision of American grandeur and his desire to leave a lasting physical mark on the nation’s most famous residence. To critics, it represents excess and ego. Either way, the Trump White House ballroom is poised to become one of the most talked-about construction projects in recent American history.

The White House ballroom, once completed, will serve as a permanent reminder of Trump’s taste for opulence — and his determination to reshape not only American politics but also the very architecture of power in Washington.