While Americans Struggle To Buy Groceries, Trump Just Unveiled Plans To Spend 0M On A New Ballroom For The White House

While Americans Struggle To Buy Groceries, Trump Just Unveiled Plans To Spend $200M On A New Ballroom For The White House

August 1, 2025 Admin

President Donald Trump has already spent months trying to remake the White House in his own image. He’s gilded the Oval Office. He’s paved the Rose Garden. He’s added two gargantuan flag poles. He’s hung a bunch of new pictures of himself.

A person in a suit is seated, gesturing while speaking, with flags in the background — Andrew Harnik / Getty Images

Now, he is about to embark on his biggest project yet: tearing down the East Wing to build an enormous ballroom that looks eerily similar to the one he uses at Mar-a-Lago, his Florida club.

A luxurious estate with a grand building surrounded by tall palm trees — Joe Raedle / Getty Images

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt revealed new details Thursday about the $200 million project, which is expected to break ground in September and wrap up in time for Trump to use it before the end of his term. Funding purportedly will be provided by Trump and other unnamed individuals.

A person at a White House podium holds up an image of a room design. An American flag is visible on the side — Bloomberg / Getty Images

“I’ll do it and probably have some donors or whatever,” the president said at a signing ceremony Thursday.

A person in a suit speaks at a podium in a formal setting, with a painting in the background — Anna Moneymaker / Getty Images

“There’s never been a president that was good at ballrooms — really good,” he said.

A person walking outside in a suit, looking ahead. Trees and blurred greenery in the background — Anna Moneymaker / Getty Images

The event space is expected to boast a 650-person capacity and blend architecturally into the rest of the People’s House, although its footprint will be quite large: The space will add 90,000 square feet. The main residence is only 55,000 square feet.

Trump has spoken about his desire for a bigger White House event space for some time, as large formal gatherings occasionally spill onto the lawn to be held under lavish tents.

The White House at dusk with illuminated exterior, an American flag, and the Washington Monument in the background — Kevin Carter / Getty Images

Trump has always hated tents. On Thursday, he explained why: “People schlopping down to the tent — it’s not a pretty sight. The women with their lovely evening gowns, and their hair all done, and they’re a mess by the time they get [there].”

People in formal wear entering a lit marquee at an event, with a tall building visible in the background — The White House / Getty Images

Trump said it was important that the addition “pay total respect to the existing building.”

The White House with a fountain in front and a well-maintained lawn, under a cloudy sky — Kevin Carter / Getty Images

The East Wing was added in 1902 during the administration of President Theodore Roosevelt and expanded downward to include a bunker during World War II — the specifications of which are not publicly known. Significant gut renovations were made to the entire White House complex in the late 1940s and early 1950s due to structural concerns.

White House entrance decorated with stars, garlands, and a large golden ornament above, seen through ornate open gates — Anna Moneymaker / Getty Images

Leavitt emphasized at a press conference that the East Wing has been renovated in the past.

A person speaks at a podium with "The White House" sign and emblem in the background — Bloomberg / Getty Images

In response to a question on how much of the East Wing would be torn down, Leavitt responded: “The East Wing is going to be modernized. The necessary construction will take place.”

Person speaking at a podium holds a photo of a snowy landscape in a government or press briefing setting — Anna Moneymaker / Getty Images

“And for those who are housed in the East Wing, including the office of the first lady, the White House Military Office, the White House Visitors Office, those offices will be temporarily relocated while the East Wing is being modernized,” she said.