The Trump administration has now officially announced a major new addition to the White House one that is likely to turn heads for years to come.
In a move aimed at expanding both the functional and ceremonial capabilities of the White House, President Donald J. Trump has announced plans for a sweeping new addition: a 90,000-square-foot classical ballroom to be constructed on the site of the East Wing.
The $200 million project, set to break ground in September 2025, will be privately funded by the president and what officials described as “patriot donors.”
“The White House State Ballroom will be a much-needed and exquisite addition,” the administration said in a statement Thursday. With a seated capacity of 650 guests, the ballroom is expected to dramatically improve the executive mansion’s ability to host high-profile state dinners, official receptions, and other presidential functions. The current East Room seats only 200.
Though grand in scale, the project emphasizes continuity with the building’s historic architectural legacy. “The White House Ballroom will be substantially separated from the main building of the White House,” the administration noted, “but at the same time, its theme and architectural heritage will be almost identical.”
The ballroom will occupy the current footprint of the East Wing, which has undergone numerous changes and reconstructions over the decades and no longer reflects its original design.
While the East Wing has often served utilitarian functions—including as a working space for the First Lady’s office—it has rarely been considered an architectural jewel.
President Trump has selected McCrery Architects, a Washington-based firm known for its commitment to classical design, to lead the project.
The firm’s past work includes federal courthouses and public monuments that reflect a traditionalist approach to American civic architecture—an aesthetic Trump has long championed.
While critics are likely to question the optics of a large construction project during a time of continued fiscal debates in Washington, the Trump administration has emphasized that no taxpayer dollars will be used. “President Trump, and other patriot donors, have generously committed to donating the funds necessary to build this approximately $200 million dollar structure,” the White House said.
This story is developing…
[READ MORE: Patel Uncovers Buried Documents Tied to Origins of Trump–Russia Probe]
