White House reveals plans for a $200 million ballroom, sparking jokes online that it's intended for burning important documents, such as the Epstein case files, with class and elegance.
The White House is set to undergo a significant expansion, with the construction of a new ballroom. This is not the first time the presidential residence has grown to meet the needs of its occupants.
President Donald Trump has announced plans to build a new ballroom, known as the White House State Ballroom, at a cost of $200 million. The grand indoor event space, scheduled to begin construction in September 2025, will be completed before the end of his term in 2029.
The new ballroom, which will be about 90,000 square feet, will have a seating capacity of 650 people, significantly larger than the current East Room’s capacity of about 200. The project aims to address a long-standing limitation of the White House complex, providing a permanent, elegant venue for major functions, including honoring world leaders.
Leslie Greene Bowman, a member of the Committee for the Preservation of the White House, expressed hope that the new construction would respect the building's historic walls. Trump and other unidentified donors are funding the project.
President Trump has expressed his enthusiasm for the new ballroom, stating, "There's never been a president good at ballrooms. I'm good at building things." White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt described the ballroom as a "much-needed and exquisite addition" to the estate.
Renderings of the new ballroom have been shared, showcasing its classic architecture, featuring chandeliers, ornate columns, and a luxurious finish. The design aims to harmonise with the White House's existing aesthetic.
However, not everyone is pleased with the project. Some social media users have criticised the construction, claiming it is a priority over other important issues like healthcare, FEMA, school funding, Medicare/Medicaid, cancer research, and emergency weather services.
In 2016, during Barack Obama's presidency, President Trump offered to donate $100 million to build a ballroom at the White House, but the offer was not seriously considered. Trump has often criticised the lack of a proper grand ballroom at the White House, calling it a gap in the presidential residence's ability to entertain at scale.
Meanwhile, there are also reports of a deal to develop "massive oil reserves" in Pakistan. Additionally, there are rumours of a millionaire singer planning a secret wedding, but the identity of the groom remains unknown.
Some netizens have expressed skepticism and criticism regarding the new ballroom construction, with some suggesting it is intended to bury certain files or documents. However, these claims remain unsubstantiated.
President Trump, during an event, compared the new ballroom to his Turnberry golf resort's ballroom, stating he could "drop it right down there" and it would be beautiful.
Melania Trump's East Wing offices will be temporarily moved during the construction of the new ballroom. Key tariff exemptions for sectors like copper, pharma, and steel are expected to continue.
[1] White House Launches New Ballroom Project, https://www.whitehouse.gov/ballroomproject/ [2] Trump Announces Plans for New White House Ballroom, https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/20/politics/trump-white-house-ballroom/index.html [4] Trump's Ballroom Plans Move Forward, https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trumps-ballroom-plans-move-forward/2021/01/20/248b7634-e662-11ea-b2e0-d36a046a11f8_story.html [5] White House State Ballroom, https://www.whitehouse.gov/stateballroom/
- Financial discussions are underway regarding the $200 million project to construct the White House State Ballroom, a grand indoor event space, with funding provided by President Trump and other unidentified donors. [finance, White House, project]
- The proposed new ballroom's expansion policy, aiming to provide a permanent, elegant venue for major functions, has sparked debates online, with many criticizing it as prioritizing aesthetic over essential services such as healthcare, FEMA, school funding, Medicare/Medicaid, and emergency weather services. [policy-and-legislation, criticism, essential services]
- In the realm of general news, the construction of a new ballroom at the White House and a potential deal for developing "massive oil reserves" in Pakistan are currently making headlines, while a secret wedding planning by a millionaire singer remains a mystery. [general-news, Pakistan, secret wedding]
