Trump breaks ground on new White House ballroom
Image: AP/White House/McCrery Architects
Demolition crews began tearing down the White House’s East Wing yesterday to make way for the addition of President Trump's planned ~$250 million ballroom.
- White House officials have said the ballroom will be at least 90,000 square feet, with the capacity for more than 650 seats. For context: that’s nearly double the main footprint of the White House—not including the East and West Wing—which measures ~55,000 square feet.
- The new ballroom marks a giant step up from the 200-seat East Room, where many large White House events are currently held.
- Trump has said the entire $250 million cost of the ballroom’s construction will be paid for by a combination of private donors and his own personal funds.
Construction is under wraps. Yesterday, the Treasury Department—located right next to the White House—told its staff not to take or share photos of the East Wing being demolished. “Carelessly shared photographs of the White House complex during this process could potentially reveal sensitive items, including security features or confidential structural details,” a Treasury spokesperson told CNBC.
However, some photos of the White House East Wing teardown have already gone viral online, where some users expressed criticism over Trump’s construction plans.
The arguments
Trump and his team say the project is meant to modernize the White House and provide a large‑scale formal event space the residence currently lacks, enhancing its functionality for state dinners and foreign‑policy events. They also emphasise that the funding comes from private donors and Trump himself, not taxpayers.
On the flip side: Some historians and opposing lawmakers argue the scale, design, and timing of the project undermine the White House’s historic character and ignore standard review processes. Opponents also raise questions about transparency over who the private donors are, whether there was proper bidding, and whether the project complies with regulations.
Looking ahead…The current plan calls for the White House ballroom to be ready before Trump leaves office in January 2029.
📊 Flash poll: Do you agree or disagree with President Trump’s decision to build a new privately-funded, $250 million White House ballroom?
See a 360° view of what pundits are saying →
Sprinkles from the Left
- Some commentators argue that the White House, long a central symbol of American democracy, is now being torn asunder by a failed casino owner who previously promised that his new ballroom construction wouldn’t have any impact on the existing White House.
- Others contend that Trump’s justification that his ballroom will be built by private donors doesn’t appropriately address the criticism against the project, and doesn’t justify the desecration of the White House.
- “I'm glad Trump is demolishing the White House to build a ballroom” –Rex Huppke, USA Today
- “The White House doesn’t need a big, beautiful ballroom” –Bill Press, The Bill Press Pod
- “Take me out to the ballroom… on the White House lawn?” –John Blumenthal, Cleveland.com
Sprinkles from the Right
- Some commentators argue that many people up in arms over Trump’s renovation probably aren’t even aware of other large-scale renovations conducted during past presidential administrations, and that upgrading the White House is a relatively normal thing for a president to do.
- Others contend that the outrage over Trump’s ballroom plans is the latest in what has become a defining characteristic of the modern left—whatever Trump does, even if it is innocuous or within his executive power, Democrats will unleash waves of histrionics and feigned fury.
- “Trump Leaves His Mark on the White House, Literally” –Jim Geraghty, National Review
- “The Donald J. Trump Ballroom freakout” –David Harsanyi, Washington Examiner
- “The White House Ballroom — Save Us the Waltz” –New York Sun Editorial Board
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