Demolition work has begun on the east wing of the White House to build a ballroom planned by US President Donald Trump. In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump confirmed the start of construction and wrote that although the hall would be built completely separately from the White House, the east wing would be “modernized and more beautiful than ever.” The demolition now affects parts of the building that traditionally house the first lady’s offices.
The 8,000 square meter ballroom will be used for receptions and state banquets and, according to Trump, will have space for almost 1,000 guests. The costs were recently estimated at around 250 million US dollars (around 215 million euros). According to Trump, the construction will be financed exclusively through donations – from “generous patriots, great American companies and myself,” said the president. It is not yet known who the donors are.
Criticism of the demolition: Trump contradicts previous statements
According to the White House, the ballroom will retain the neoclassical style of the presidential residence. Designs show a banquet hall with gilded Corinthian columns, crystal chandeliers and a black and white checkered marble floor.
Trump said on Monday that with the construction he was fulfilling a long-held wish of many presidents before him: “They have wanted a ballroom for 150 years, and I am giving this honor to this wonderful site.” Critics of the project, however, accuse Trump of seeking recognition. It is also sometimes criticized that Trump’s massive extension represents a major intervention in the historical ensemble of buildings on the White House grounds.
The project is part of a series of renovations that Trump is making to remodel the government headquarters to his liking, including large flagpoles, a newly paved rose garden and gold-colored decorations in the Oval Office. Work on the ballroom project is expected to be completed before the end of Trump’s second term, which runs until January 2029.
