Published on: October 23, 2025, at 04:43h.
Latest update on: October 22, 2025, at 01:47h.
- Trump’s White House Ballroom is in development
- The $250 million undertaking is anticipated to be completed “well before” the conclusion of his second term
- Trump claims the initiative is funded entirely by private contributions without taxpayer expense
The construction of President Donald Trump’s White House Ballroom commenced this week, marking the demolition of the East Wing’s façade.
This ambitious and contentious $250 million initiative, fully financed by Trump along with individual and corporate donations, will yield a grand ballroom spanning 90,000 square feet—over twice the size of the original White House. It will accommodate 1,000 guests. The former casino mogul maintains that a spacious venue for entertaining is essential, given that the East Room only hosts 200 guests.
For over 150 years, every incumbent has aspired to have a ballroom at the White House to host grand events and state visits. I take pride in being the first president to finally make this much-needed project a reality—without cost to the American taxpayer. The White House Ballroom is funded through the generosity of many patriotic supporters, esteemed American companies, and myself. This venue will serve future generations joyfully,” Trump declared.
Opponents argue that Trump is erasing a piece of American history, as significant structural alterations to the White House have not been made since the late 1940s, when President Harry Truman spearheaded a complete interior reconstruction.
It’s not his property. It belongs to the public. He is ruining it,” commented Hillary Clinton.
Susie Wiles, Trump’s White House chief of staff, addressed concerns regarding the integrity of the presidential residence.
“President Trump is an architect by nature with a keen eye for detail. He and the Trump administration are dedicated to collaborating with the relevant organizations to maintain the historic significance of the White House while constructing a magnificent ballroom for future administrations and generations of Americans,” Wiles stated.
Trump and Ballrooms
Notably, the White House is not the first ballroom that Trump has conceptualized and built. His extensive portfolio of luxury hotels, resorts, and estates, including the renowned Mar-a-Lago, features opulent and spacious ballrooms.
When constructing his casino resorts throughout the 1980s and 90s, Trump typically incorporated ballrooms.
The Trump Plaza Ballroom hosted a variety of events including boxing matches and trade exhibitions. Other venues under Trump Entertainment, such as the Grand Cayman Ballroom at Trump Marina, also offered large event spaces.
However, the largest event space Trump has ever constructed surpasses the current ballroom project at the White House. The Trump Taj Mahal, opening in April 1990, featured an expansive ballroom of approximately 175,000 square feet, customizable for diverse events.
The property was acquired by Hard Rock, reopening in June 2018 and the ballroom/event space is now known as Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena.
Details of the White House Project
Moving forward, Trump envisions the East Room as a gathering space where guests can socialize over drinks and hors d’oeuvres before entering the ballroom for a meal. The ballroom will have capacity for 650 seated guests and 999 standing, suitable for inaugurations. The windows will also feature bulletproof glass.
Trump forecasts that the White House Ballroom will be completed well before the end of his second term in January 2029.