Washington DC: The White House has announced plans to construct a new $200 million ballroom, a project long envisioned by US President Donald Trump.
This expansive addition, along with a modernisation of the East Wing, which currently houses First Lady Melania Trump’s offices and other White House staff, will be entirely funded through private donations. Trump himself is contributing, alongside other unnamed donors.
According to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, construction will begin in September 2025 and is expected to be completed well before the end of Trump’s term in January 2029.
The ballroom will span approximately 90,000 square feet (8,360 sq m) and offer seating for around 650 guests, over three times the capacity of the East Room, which currently accommodates about 200.
Leavitt said that the “much-needed and exquisite addition” would finally resolve a long-standing inconvenience: the frequent installation of ‘large and unsightly’ tents on the South Lawn to host major events, including state dinners with world leaders.
The White House ballroom will allow such events to be held indoors in an architecturally harmonious setting that includes lavish interiors with chandeliers and ornate columns, in keeping with the White House’s historic aesthetic.
Renderings released by the White House depict the ballroom seamlessly integrated with the East Wing. Chief of Staff Susie Wiles emphasized that the project would respect and preserve the legacy of the White House, calling it a “beautiful ballroom that can be enjoyed by future administrations and generations of Americans to come.”
During a recent White House event, Trump said that, “There’s never been a President that’s good at ballrooms. I’m good at building things.” The President described the use of tents for major gatherings as a ‘disaster,’ adding that “no president knew how to build a ballroom.” Trump even joked that he could transplant a ballroom from his Turnberry golf resort in Scotland and ‘drop it right down’ into the White House grounds.
This is not Trump’s first attempt to bring a Ballroom to the White House. In 2016, during Barack Obama’s presidency, he offered to donate $100 million for such a project.
However, the proposal was rejected. Then-Press Secretary Josh Earnest dismissed the idea, stating it wasn’t seriously considered and joking that ‘a shiny gold Trump sign’ on any part of the White House would be inappropriate.
Leslie Greene Bowman, a member of the Committee for the Preservation of the White House under four different presidents, commented that, “The White House has a history of expansion to accommodate the changing needs of the nation’s chief executive,” and stressed the importance of preserving the historical integrity of the residence.
During the renovation, offices in the East Wing, including those of the First Lady, will be temporarily relocated. The Trump administration insists it will work closely with heritage organizations to ensure that the updates honour the building’s historic significance while adapting to modern needs.
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