Trump takes delight in refurbishing the White House, with a stunning ballroom and a modern Lincoln bathroom among the changes.
Donald Trump, the 45th President of the United States, has unveiled ambitious plans for a significant transformation of the White House complex. The centrepiece of this project is a new 90,000-square-foot ballroom, designed to serve as a dedicated space for official events, state dinners, and large ceremonial gatherings.
The ballroom, set to be built at a cost of approximately $200 million, will replace the existing East Wing, which currently houses the Office of the First Lady and the White House visitors office. These offices will be temporarily relocated during construction. The design will adhere to the classical style of the White House, reflecting the era of its original construction.
Construction is scheduled to begin in September 2025, with funding provided by Donald Trump and private donors. The United States Secret Service will oversee necessary security modifications during the build. McCrery Architects have been selected for the design, Clark Construction for the build, and AECOM for engineering support.
The ballroom project aims to address the current White House limitation where it must install large, unsightly tents away from the main entrance to accommodate major events. The new ballroom will provide an elegant and permanent solution for large-scale official functions. It will accommodate approximately 650 seated guests and eliminate the need to shuttle guests to tents on the South Lawn for large events.
The project, which is expected to be the biggest transformation of the White House complex since Harry Truman's day, looms as a potential enduring legacy of Donald Trump's presidency. Trump has stated that the ballroom will be his "gift to the country." He has also mentioned that some of the world's "finest architects" are involved in the project.
In addition to the ballroom, Trump has made various changes to his White House surroundings since returning to office. He has paved over a grassy patch of the Rose Garden, citing problems for women in high heels walking through the garden. Two towering flag poles have been put in on the White House grounds. Inside the Oval Office, gold accents have been added.
Trump has also announced plans to replace a "terribly" remodeled bathroom in the Lincoln Bedroom with one truer to Abraham Lincoln's era. The ballroom will be positioned "a football field away from the White House," and Trump has expressed concerns about the potential issues when it rains or snows.
A White House official stated that Trump has viewed renderings of the ballroom. The work on the ballroom is expected to finish before the end of Trump's term.
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- The ambitious real estate project initiated by Donald Trump, the 45th President of the United States, involves not only the construction of a new 90,000-square-foot ballroom but also policy-and-legislation changes, as some offices will be temporarily relocated during construction.
- The ballroom project, a potential enduring legacy of Trump's presidency, has garnered attention in general-news, with sources reporting that Trump has announced plans to replace a "terribly" remodeled bathroom in the Lincoln Bedroom and has expressed concerns about potential issues when it rains or snows, as the ballroom will be positioned "a football field away from the White House."
