WASHINGTON: Major construction work has begun at the White House as part of President Donald Trump’s plan to add a sprawling 25,000-square-foot ballroom to the East Wing. The new hall, estimated to cost around $250 million, will host state dinners and other formal events.
Photographs taken this week show heavy machinery tearing down large sections of the East Wing, a structure that has stood for over a century. The work marks one of the most extensive physical alterations to the White House since the 1940s.
President Trump, 79, defended the project in a post on Truth Social, stating that the East Wing is being “fully modernized” and that the new addition will be “more beautiful than ever.” He emphasized that the construction would not interfere with the main White House building.
Who Are Sponsors:
The ballroom is said to be financed privately, with Trump himself contributing alongside major donors such as Apple, Google, Lockheed Martin, and T-Mobile. The project’s cost has risen from an initial $200 million estimate to $250 million after recent design expansions increased capacity from 650 to 900 guests.
Evolution of the East Wing:
Built in 1902 under President Theodore Roosevelt, the East Wing originally served as a public entrance and later housed offices for First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt and her staff after a 1942 expansion.
How Trump Describes the Project:
During a meeting with donors last month, Trump described the project as replacing the current structure with “the most beautiful ballroom.” On Monday, as construction began, gold curtains were drawn across the East Room to muffle the noise. The president briefly referenced the renovation while hosting two Louisiana State baseball teams.
Trump has argued that the new venue will resolve long-standing logistical challenges, noting that large gatherings are often held under temporary tents on the South Lawn. “When it rains or snows, it’s a disaster,” he told NBC News earlier this year.
White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles said officials are coordinating with the National Park Service and other bodies to preserve the site’s historical integrity. However, some lawmakers, including Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wis.), have criticized the privately funded renovation, saying such major changes should have been reviewed by Congress.
