“Karoline Leavitt’s Shocking \$200M Ballroom Plans at the White House: Lavish Luxury or Political Power Play? What’s Really Behind This Controversial Move?”
“Karoline Leavitt’s Shocking \$200M Ballroom Plans at the White House: Lavish Luxury or Political Power Play? What’s Really Behind This Controversial Move?”
Construction is set to begin in September on a new ballroom inside the White House, press secretary Karoline Leavitt announced Thursday.
The $200 million ballroom will be built adjacent to the White House where the East Wing sits. Leavitt said the East Wing will be “modernized,” with offices in that area relocated during construction.
The cost of the project will be covered by President Trump and other donors, the White House said.
“The White House state ballroom will be a much needed and exquisite addition of 90,000 square feet,” Leavitt said, adding that it would have a seated capacity of 650 people and would eliminate the need for a “large and unsightly tent” to host state dinners and other large events.
Trump has met in recent weeks with the National Park Service, Secret Service and other agencies to discuss the project. Leavitt said it would be completed before the end of Trump’s term in January 2029.
“The president and the Trump White House are fully committed to working with the appropriate organizations to preserving the special history of the White House while building a beautiful ballroom that can be enjoyed by future Administrations and generations of Americans to come,” White House chief of staff Susie Wiles said in a statement.
Trump has spoken in recent months about his desire for changes to the White House, including the addition of a ballroom. The grass in the Rose Garden has been uprooted in recent weeks and replaced with stone pavers.
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Obama White House officials confirmed in 2016 that Trump had offered to build a $100 million ballroom in the building, but they said they did not seriously consider the proposal.
