Trump’s White House Ballroom: 8 Key Things To Know About The $300 Million Project

Last Updated:October 23, 2025, 11:02 IST

A 90,000 square foot ballroom is replacing the East Wing of the White House. Funded by billionaires and directed by Trump himself, it has sparked controversy over cost and legality

US President Donald Trump holds an image of a rendering of the new White House ballroom to be built. (REUTERS)

US President Donald Trump has begun the most sweeping White House construction in decades:  a 90,000 square foot ballroom inspired by Mar-a-Lago, his private club and residence in Palm Beach, Florida, known for its gold-accented interiors and extravagant events.

The project, already underway, has seen the East Wing torn down and donors from Big Tech and defence circles line up to contribute. Trump says it’s fully private and necessary to host grander events; critics call it reckless and opaque.

Here are eight key questions that explain the project, its money trail, and the mounting backlash.

Why Is Trump Building A Ballroom At The White House?

Trump argues the White House needs a larger indoor space for official dinners and receptions. The East Room, its biggest hall, seats only about 200. He dislikes using outdoor tents for state functions.

“It was never thought of as being much," he said of the East Wing. “It was a very small building." Trump told reporters the ballroom would give future presidents a proper venue and that earlier East Wing additions “were not very nice."

CNN reported that Trump has been contemplating the addition of a White House ballroom for over 15 years. Now, as president for a second term, he is closely involved in the project’s execution, personally chairing weekly planning meetings, overseeing architectural decisions, and reviewing design models and renderings with aides and advisers.

Who Is Paying For The Ballroom?

Trump insists no public money is involved. “The government is paying absolutely nothing," he said. “It’s being paid for 100 per cent by me and some friends of mine."

The money is being routed through the Trust for the Mall, a nonprofit organisation that partners with the Park Service and supports preservation projects across Washington, DC.

The White House has not released a full list of donors, but according to ABC News, several companies were reportedly invited to a private donor dinner at the White House to discuss the project. The list included:

These companies have not publicly confirmed donations, but their inclusion on the White House list suggests they may be among the potential funders.

Alphabet is confirmed to have contributed $22 million as part of a legal settlement Trump reached following his ban from YouTube. The funds were directed “on Trump’s behalf" to the Trust for the Mall.

Paolo Tiramani, a construction company CEO listed among the donors, confirmed in a public statement that he donated $10 million in stock to the Trust.

How much Trump himself will pay remains undisclosed.

Why Has The Ballroom Cost Risen To $300 Million?

Initial estimates put the ballroom at $200–250 million. But Trump later raised the figure publicly, telling reporters the project would now cost “about $300 million."

The increase appears tied to a design expansion: according to CNN, two scale models were created — one smaller, one larger — and Trump personally selected the larger version after polling visitors.

The Washington Post noted that the ballroom will be nearly double the size of the main White House residence, which is approximately 55,000 square feet.

What Will Happen To The East Wing?

The East Wing is being demolished entirely, despite earlier statements that it would be left intact. Over the summer, press secretary Karoline Leavitt said, “Nothing will be torn down." At the time, Trump had described the ballroom as being “near [the White House] but not touching it."

That changed once detailed planning began. Now, excavators are removing several historic spaces, including the First Lady’s offices, the visitors’ entrance, the East Wing movie theatre, and the PEOC (President’s Emergency Operations Center), a secure underground facility. Public tours have been suspended for at least two months.

Explaining the reversal, Trump said: “In order to do it properly, we had to take down the existing structure." He criticised the East Wing’s previous expansion as “not very nice," and dismissed the structure as “a very small building."

How Big Will The Ballroom Be And What Will It Look Like?

Planned at 90,000 square feet, the ballroom will seat 999 people, “big enough to fit an inauguration," Trump told donors.

Renderings show gilded interiors, chandeliers, bulletproof windows, and a Louis XIV‑style design resembling Mar‑a‑Lago. A glass bridge will link it to the East Room, which will become a cocktail and reception area.

“You see it goes beautifully with the White House. I mean, the mix is beautiful," Trump said in the Oval Office.

When Will The Ballroom Be Completed?

Trump has promised it will be ready before his term ends in January 2029. No formal timeline has been disclosed, but officials call the schedule ambitious.

The  Capital Planning Commission (NCPC), which oversees federal projects, has not yet approved construction. The commission is temporarily closed during the government shutdown. Even so, demolition continues.

Trump recently appointed three allies, including staff secretary Will Scharf, as NCPC members; Scharf now serves as chairman.

What Do Preservationists And Critics Say?

Several historic preservation groups, including the Trust for Historic Preservation and the DC Preservation League, have urged the White House to halt demolition until plans for the new ballroom are made public and subjected to regulatory and community input.

Rebecca Miller, executive director of the DC Preservation League, told CNN: “Most concerning is that they’re just tearing down the East Wing without any public submission as to what is going to be built in its place."

By the time these concerns were raised, much of the East Wing had already been reduced to rubble.

Has Trump Changed Other Parts Of The White House?

Yes, the new ballroom is just the most ambitious in a series of changes made to the White House during Trump’s presidency. Over the past few years, he has overseen a number of visible alterations across the complex.

The Rose Garden was converted into a stone-covered patio, tall flagpoles were added to both the North and South Lawns, and the Oval Office was redecorated with gold-toned furnishings, historic portraits, and busts. Inside the private quarters, the Lincoln Bedroom bathroom was renovated, and marble flooring was laid along the corridor leading to the South Lawn.

He has also proposed a massive triumphal arch across the Potomac River, near the Lincoln Memorial.

The new ballroom, however, is in a category of its own; a centrepiece project that Trump sees as his defining architectural contribution to the presidency.

News explainers Trump’s White House Ballroom: 8 Key Things To Know About The $300 Million Project

Read More