The Trump administration will erect a privately funded, $200 million White House ballroom starting in September, with the venue ready for use before the president’s term ends in early 2029.
“We’ve been planning it for a long time,” Trump told reporters at the executive mansion. “They’ve wanted a ballroom at the White House for more than 150 years.”
The president emphasized that “no government dollars” would be used to pay for the first structural change to the White House since the addition of the Truman Balcony in 1948.
“It’s a private thing. I’ll do it. And we’ll probably have some donors,” said Trump, 79.
The 90,000-square-foot “White House State Ballroom,” as it’s being officially called, will be situated in the East Wing and be able to fit 650 people when construction is completed.
“President Trump is a builder at heart and has an extraordinary eye for detail,” White House chief of staff Susie Wiles said in a statement.
“The President and the Trump White House are fully committed to working with the appropriate organizations to preserving the special history of the White House while building a beautiful ballroom that can be enjoyed by future Administrations and generations of Americans to come,” Wiles added.
Trump vowed to “get it built quickly and on time.”
“It’ll be beautiful, top of the line,” the president pledged, noting state dinner guests will have “views of the Washington Monument” from the new venue.
“We’ve retained the best architects and engineers … it pays total respect to the existing building, which I’m the biggest fan of,” Trump added.
The president argued the project is necessary because there isn’t enough space in the White House East Room, currently the largest event space in the “People’s House,” to accommodate the number of guests who wish to attend major events.
“You entertain the president of China, the president of any place, and you have big crowds,” Trump said. “They’ve always had to get a tent and … when it rains, it’s a disaster.”
The tent is usually put up more than 100 yards away from the main entrance to the White House, out of sight of the press corps.
“People schlepping down to the tent – It’s not a pretty sight,” Trump quipped.
The ballroom will be one of several personal touches Trump has added to the executive mansion during his second term.
Trump recently installed massive flagpoles on the north and south lawns and the grass in the Rose Garden is currently being replaced with stone.
“It’ll be a great legacy project,” the president said of the ballroom, “and I think it’ll be special.”
