The $200 million project will be privately funded by President Trump and other donors, according to White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt.
The Trump administration has announced plans to construct a 90,000-square-foot State Ballroom in the White House’s East Wing.
The $200 million project will be privately funded by President Trump and other donors, according to White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt.
“The White House is currently unable to host major functions without using a large and unsightly tent,” Leavitt said. “The State Ballroom will be a much-needed and exquisite addition.”
President Trump told reporters, “We’ve been planning it for a long time,” assuring the ballroom “won’t interfere with the current building,” which he called his “favorite place.”
The ballroom will seat 650 people, more than triple the East Room’s capacity. McCrery Architects will design the facility, with Clark Construction and AECOM handling construction and engineering.
Construction is scheduled to begin in September. The structure will replace the East Wing and mimic the White House’s architecture. Some Democrats have questioned the funding source, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.