What to know about Trump’s plan to build $250m White House ballroom, Trump kicks off East Wing demolition for ballroom Politics
Major demolition work began this week in the East Wing of the White House as part of United States President Donald Trump’s plan to build a new ballroom in the space traditionally reserved for the First Lady.
The construction, which began on Monday, is the first structural change to the complex since 1948, and the first during Trump’s tenure, who has already furnished the Oval Office with lavish gold furnishings.
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According to a report by the Associated Press news agency, the project moved forward despite not being formally approved by the National Capital Planning Commission, the federal agency that oversees such work, which is currently closed due to the nationwide government shutdown.
Trump first announced the construction of this new building at the White House in July and confirmed it on Monday in a post on his social media site, Truth Social.
Things to know about the ballroom plans:
A view of the White House at sunset
A view of the White House at sunset in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, October 8, 2025 [Jacqueline Martin/AP]
Why is the East Wing of the White House being demolished?
In his announcement on Monday, Trump said the East Wing is being rebuilt to create a ballroom. According to the AP, the president has previously complained about the lack of sufficient space at the White House to host national leaders and other important guests. Such state dinners have typically been held on the White House lawn.
“I am pleased to announce that the groundbreaking for the construction of a new, larger, and more beautiful White House Ballroom has taken place on the White House campus,” Trump wrote on Monday. He further stated that the project is being entirely privately funded and will have no impact on the main White House building—a fact some have viewed with skepticism due to the sheer scale of the renovation.
Interactive – Demolition of the Donald Trump Ballroom in the White House’s East Wing – 1761038327
(Al Jazeera)
“For more than 150 years, every president has dreamed of having a ballroom in the White House where people could sit for lavish parties, state visits, and more. I am proud to be the first president to initiate this much-anticipated project—and at zero cost to American taxpayers!” the president continued.
The two-story structure of the East Wing was first added in 1902. Since 1977, during Rosalynn Carter’s tenure, it has housed the offices of the First Lady and her staff, as well as an entrance for foreign dignitaries. It also includes a large theater and the Graphics and Calligraphy Office, which prepares invitations for non-political events held at the mansion. This wing is built directly above the underground emergency bunker reserved for the president.
What will the construction cost?
According to the Associated Press and other US media reports, the Trump ballroom is estimated to cost $250 million. Press Secretary Carolyn Levitt had previously stated in an August statement that the cost would be around $200 million.
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Trump has stated that the cost will be borne by himself and private donors, although the entities involved have not been disclosed.
What will the ballroom be like?
According to Levitt, the new ballroom will be approximately 90,000 square feet (8,360 square meters) and will seat approximately 650 guests. Reuters news agency reports that the new room will be able to accommodate 999 people.
Currently, most White House events are held in the East Room, which seats approximately 200 people.
Leavitt said in August that construction would be completed “well before” the end of Trump’s term in January 2029. During the “modernization” process, offices there will be temporarily relocated. Leavitt added that “nothing will be demolished.”
“It will be beautiful,” Trump said in early July. “It won’t interfere with the existing building. It won’t be like that—it will be near it, but it won’t touch it. And it shows complete respect for the existing building, which I’m a huge fan of. It’s my favorite.”
Washington-based McCreary Architects will lead the project, along with construction teams from Virginia-based Clark Construction. Engineering work will be performed by Dallas-based AECOM.
What changes have been made to the White House before?
The mansion has undergone numerous structural changes since it was first completed in 1800, as various presidents attempted to redesign it to their liking.
Interactive – History of the White House Donald Trump-1761041826
(Al Jazeera)
Some notable changes over the past century include:
Theodore Roosevelt (1901-1909) removed the old Victorian-style interiors in 1902, moved the presidential office from the second floor of the residence to the newly built west wing, and expanded the State Dining Room to seat 100 guests, up from the previous 40. He also built a small east wing as an entrance for formal guests.
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The West Wing was rebuilt and the first Oval Office was created.
During World War II, Franklin D. Roosevelt (1933–1945) expanded the East Wing from an entrance into a two-story building, deliberately designed to conceal an underground emergency bunker—the Presidential Emergency Operations Center (PEOC).
Harry Truman (1945–1953) notably made some of the most extensive changes. Workers demolished the interior structure to install steel beams and concrete floors, and in some places only the exterior walls remained. He also built the controversial second-floor “Truman Balcony” over the South Portico, which architectural purists argued was inconsistent with the mansion’s original 16th-century Palladian style.
John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Kennedy (1961–1963) built the Situation Room and renovated other rooms with antiques.
Richard Nixon (1969-1974) built a bowling alley and upgraded the Situation Room.
Bill Clinton (1993-2001) improved security systems and internet connectivity, while George W. Bush (2001-2009) renovated the press briefing room and restored several historic rooms, including the Abraham Lincoln Bedroom. Barack Obama (2009-2017) installed Wi-Fi throughout the White House and West Wing and adapted the existing tennis courts for basketball games.
What is the history of the White House?
The White House, which includes the East and West Wings, spans approximately 55,000 square feet across six floors. Its 18-acre grounds contain 132 rooms, 35 bathrooms, and 28 fireplaces.
Construction began on October 13, 1792, during the presidency of President George Washington, and continued until November 1, 1800, during the presidency of President John Adams. It was designed by Irish-born architect James Hoban, who modeled it after Leinster House, the Irish Parliament building.
During the War of 1812, the mansion was severely damaged by a fire set by British forces in 1814, but was promptly restored. Every US president since Adams has lived in the White House.
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