“The military is very much involved in this. The military is building a massive complex under the ballroom. This is about security and about making the White House worthy of the great nation it represents.
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Trump White House Ballroom Construction
July 31, 2025
President Trump demolished the White House East Wing in October 2025 to build a 90,000-square-foot grand ballroom, estimated at $400 million and funded by private donors. The project has faced legal challenges — a federal judge halted construction on March 31, 2026, ruling Trump needs congressional authorization — and bitter political debate, though the National Capital Planning Commission approved the design 8-1 on April 2, 2026.
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27 Statements
“We appreciate the court of appeals acting quickly and await further clarification from the district court. As is obvious, the absence of a massive ballroom on White House grounds has not stopped this or any other President from residing at the White House or hosting events there.
“I would like to thank the hardworking Commissioners and Staff of the National Capital Planning Commission, who just voted overwhelmingly, 8-1, to approve the magnificent White House Ballroom now rising on this Hallowed Ground. I am pleased to announce that even Board Member Senator Rand Paul, known as an extraordinarily difficult vote, voted a strong YES.
“When completed, it will be the Greatest and Most Beautiful Ballroom of its kind anywhere in the World.
“I don't think we should be looking at the White House piecemeal. Today is the ballroom. Tomorrow, it could be some modifications to — I guess, it's the colonnade between the main building and the West Wing. The day after that, it could be some addition to the West Wing.
“We built many things at the White House over the years. They don't get congressional approval.
“Jesse, it's a monument. I'm building a monument to myself — because no one else will.
“President Trump has put a 'for sale' sign on the White House — soliciting hundreds of millions of dollars from special interests to fund his $300 million vanity project. Our measure is a direct response to Trump's ballroom boondoggle. With commonsense reforms to how the federal government can use private donations, our legislation prevents President Trump and future presidents from using construction projects as vehicles for corruption and personal vanity.
“Billionaires and giant corporations with business in front of this administration are lining up to dump millions into Trump's new ballroom — and Trump is showing them where to sign on the dotted line. Americans shouldn't have to wonder whether President Trump is building a ballroom to facilitate a pay-to-play scheme for political favors. My new bill will put an end to what looks like bribery in plain sight.
“Donald Trump is raising hundreds of millions of dollars to build himself a White House ballroom at a time when millions of American families can barely make ends meet. It's outrageous that the White House won't reveal who's bankrolling Trump's pet project, and that the people's house could be funded by shady figures, corrupt money, and bad actors. This bill will ban contributions from anyone with a conflict of interest, prevent bribery, and ensure we can hold any administration accountable for blatant corruption.
“The new ballroom is a practical investment in America's most important home. For years, the White House has struggled to accommodate large-scale events, whether for state visits, national ceremonies or even bipartisan gatherings that bring leaders together.
“The new ballroom is a practical investment in America's most important home. For years, the White House has struggled to accommodate large-scale events, whether for state visits, national ceremonies or even bipartisan gatherings that bring leaders together.
“The new ballroom is a practical investment in America's most important home. For years, the White House has struggled to accommodate large-scale events, whether for state visits, national ceremonies or even bipartisan gatherings that bring leaders together.
“The new ballroom is a practical investment in America's most important home. For years, the White House has struggled to accommodate large-scale events, whether for state visits, national ceremonies or even bipartisan gatherings that bring leaders together.
“Don't even think of seeking the Democratic nomination for president unless you pledge to take a wrecking ball to the Trump Ballroom on DAY ONE.
“The stark images of the East Wing demolished in mere days were deeply disturbing to Americans who cherish preservation of our nation's history.
“$200 million for Trump's large, fancy White House ballroom... That's what DOGE was all about, folks. Cutting things from you, and giving it not to some place that needed it, giving it to the big shots who run the show, Donald Trump at the top of the list.
“At this moment in time, of course, the ballroom is really the president's main priority.
“The White House has been renovated many times... President Trump's going to add the greatest improvement to the White House in the history of the building... The ballroom is going to be glorious.
“You walk outside of the White House in the rain, sometimes to go to a tent, to go to a tent to host a world leader. That's what we do today. And President Trump said that's a disgrace, how about we do better? And not only did he say we were going to build a great ballroom that we can host these events, he funded it privately. It's going to be a permanent renovation that will enhance the White House for all future presidents.
“Now, Trump, who fashions himself a king, is doing the dirty work himself, tearing apart the people's house to build a gaudy Marie Antoinette ballroom for the billionaires and CEOs to party while Americans are crushed by inflation and tariffs.
“It's not his house. It's your house. And he's destroying it.
“A ballroom in the White House will be used by presidents, both Republicans and Democrats, and it's being funded without a penny of taxpayer money.
“The plans are going to be done in a tasteful and historical kind of way. They're not putting in a Dave & Buster's kind of situation here, so I think upgrading some of these facilities seems pretty normal.
“I'm glad they're doing it with private dollars. I think it'll be a great thing to add and put that Trump stamp on the White House.
“My concern, given what I've heard so far, is that it wouldn't be completed on his timeline, so that he will be the former president and whoever succeeds him will be stuck with what could be a white elephant.
“The project at the White House is a gigantic boondoggle. The important question is not only the damage that it could do to the architecture of the White House, but also what contributors would have over Trump if they are giving to this project.