Trump unveils fresh $200M ballroom for White House, rebranding it as 'The People's House's latest renovation project
White House to Build New $200 Million Ballroom
The White House is set to undergo a significant transformation with the construction of a new ballroom, scheduled to start in September 2025 and be completed before President Donald Trump's term ends in January 2029. This 90,000-square-foot ballroom will nearly double the size of the current White House and replace the East Wing, providing a much larger event space with a capacity for 650 seated guests, compared to the East Room's 200-person capacity.
The project is led by McLean’s Clark Construction, with design by McCrery Architects and engineering by AECOM. Funding comes from President Trump and other donors. White House chief of staff Susie Wiles stated that President Trump and his White House are committed to preserving the mansion's special history.
The new ballroom aims to solve a problem existing for over 150 years: the White House currently lacks a sufficiently large space for major functions honoring world leaders without resorting to unsightly temporary tents nearby. This addition will facilitate hosting larger events directly on the grounds, enhancing the White House’s capacity while respecting its historic status.
The ballroom will be built where the East Wing sits, but it will be substantially separated from the main building to preserve the integrity of the original structure. The East Wing houses several offices, including the first lady's, which will be temporarily relocated during construction.
Trump has been planning the construction of the ballroom for some time. He intends to replace the bathroom in the Lincoln Bedroom with one that is closer in style to the 19th century. This will be the first structural change to the Executive Mansion itself since the addition of the Truman balcony in 1948.
In addition to the ballroom construction, the White House is also undergoing other changes. Workers are currently finishing up a project to replace the lawn in the Rose Garden with stone.
Despite these changes, nothing will be torn down during the construction of the ballroom. The massive flagpoles that have been installed on the north and south lawns to fly the American flag are not affected by the construction plans.
Leavitt did not name any of the other donors who have committed to raising the approximately $200 million in construction costs, but it is clear that the White House is undergoing a significant renovation under President Trump's leadership.
[1] White House Ballroom Construction to Begin in September 2025 [2] New White House Ballroom to Replace East Wing [4] President Trump Committed to Preserving White House History During Ballroom Construction
[1] The upcoming construction of a new $200 million ballroom at the White House, scheduled for September 2025, signals a major investment in real-estate that aims to address a longstanding issue of insufficient event space for honoring world leaders.
[2] The White House's renovation under President Trump's leadership not only includes the construction of a larger ballroom, but also policy-and-legislation modifications, as the President is seeking funding from various donors to cover the significant costs.
[3] Following the completion of the White House ballroom construction in January 2029, general-news outlets will likely highlight the political implications of such a monumental project, with discussions exploring the affiliated investing and financial aspects involved in the transformation of the historic mansion.
