"Its current occupant, Republican President Donald Trump, is having a new ballroom built in the East Wing to accommodate almost 1,000 people for events such as state banquets. The renovation is a project close to the president's heart, and one which he has repeatedly spoken about with pride. But it has also drawn criticism particularly over how it is being financed."
"Trump insists that for 150 years the US government has lacked, and wanted, space to host large receptions at the White House. That's apparently why, "President Donald J. Trump has expressed his commitment to solving this problem on behalf of future administrations and the American people," as a White House press statement read in July 2025. With an area of around 8,360 square meters (89,986 square feet), the ballroom now under construction is slightly larger than a soccer field."
""I am pleased to announce that ground has been broken on the White House grounds to build the new, big, beautiful White House Ballroom," Trump wrote on his Truth Social network. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Initial plans put capacity at 650 guests. At a dinner with wealthy donors last week, Trump announced that there would be room for 999 people."
Excavators are tearing down parts of the White House as a new East Wing ballroom is under construction to accommodate almost 1,000 guests for events such as state banquets. The ballroom covers about 8,360 square meters, slightly larger than a soccer field, and is estimated to cost about $300 million. Groundbreaking was announced on Truth Social and initial capacity plans rose from 650 to 999 guests. Large receptions have often been held in lawn tents, and the new ballroom is presented as a remedy to that arrangement. The White House states no taxpayer funds will be used, but financing has drawn criticism amid a federal government shutdown.
Read at www.dw.com
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