The White House’s East Wing was at least partially torn down Monday as construction on a $250 million ballroom got underway.
The National Capital Planning Commission, which approves such projects, hasn’t given its blessing to President Trump’s pet project. He said Monday the addition will be privately funded by “many generous Patriots, Great American Companies, and, yours truly.”
“I am pleased to announce that ground has been broken on the White House grounds to build the new, big, beautiful White House Ballroom. Completely separate from the White House itself, the East Wing is being fully modernized as part of this process, and will be more beautiful than ever when it is complete!” Trump posted on his social media platform.
The President claims all of his predecessors over the past 150 years wanted a ballroom and takes credit for making that happen.
Construction equipment rumbled as Trump hosted 2025 college baseball champs Louisiana State University and LSU-Shreveport in the East Room. That part of the White House is used by the First Lady and her staff. It was added in 1902 and renovated 40 years later.
The White House claimed in a July 35 statement the ballroom will be “a much-needed and exquisite addition of approximately 90,000 total square feet of ornately designed and carefully crafted space” that seats 650 people. But Trump said at a dinner for business leaders last week the project will seat nearly 1,000 visitors due to a change in plans.
It’s not clear if the White House submitted its ballroom plans for the planning commission to review. That group’s offices are closed due to the government shutdown that began Oct. 1.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said in July when the ballroom was announced that “Nothing will be torn down.”
With News Wire Services
