9 things to know about the $250 million ballroom Trump is adding to the White House

WASHINGTON (AP) — Construction began this week on the $250 million ballroom that President Donald Trump is adding to the White House as construction crews began demolishing the facade of the East Wing where the new space is being built.

The Republican president and senior White House officials had initially said nothing would be demolished during construction.

the pictures: The White House begins demolition of the East Wing to build the Trump Ballroom

The 90,000-square-foot ballroom will be larger than the main White House itself, nearly twice its size, and Trump says it will seat 999 people.

Trump said on social media that the hall will not cost taxpayers a dime because it is privately funded by “many generous patriots, great American corporations, and yours truly.”

Here are some things to know about the latest White House construction project.

Why is Trump building a dance hall?

Trump says that the White House needs a large entertainment space, and complained that the East Room, which is currently the largest space in the White House, is very small and can accommodate about 200 people. He resented the previous practice of presidents hosting state dinners and other large events in tents on the South Lawn.

Who pays the $250 million construction bill?

Trump says the project will be funded by private donations and no public funds will be spent on the hall. The White House promised to release information about the individuals and companies that pledged or donated money and invited some donors to a dinner in the East Room last week, but did not release a comprehensive list and breakdown of the funds.

He watches: Trump hosts a dinner for donors to the $250 million White House Atrium project

About $22 million for the project came from YouTube, a subsidiary of Google, as part of the final settlement of a lawsuit that Trump filed against the company in 2021.

The White House also did not say how much money Trump is contributing from his own funds.

Why demolish part of the east wing to build the ballroom?

A demolition crew dismantles the facade of the East Wing of the White House, where President Donald Trump’s proposed ballroom is being built on October 21, 2025. Photograph by Jonathan Ernst/Reuters

The East Wing is traditionally the social side of the White House and is located across East Executive Avenue from the Treasury Department. It is the place where tourists and other guests enter for events.

The president and his chief spokeswoman, Carolyn Leavitt, said over the summer that the White House itself would remain intact with the construction of the ballroom.

“He will be close to him but not touching him,” Trump said. “Nothing will be torn down,” Leavitt added.

It turns out that this is not the case.

The White House said some demolition work is needed because the East Wing, the traditional home of the first lady and her staff, is being updated as part of the ballroom project.

Can Trump build a dance hall?

It is moving forward with construction despite the lack of a signature from the National Capital Planning Commission, the executive branch agency that has jurisdiction over construction and major renovations of government buildings in the region.

Read more: The White House says it will begin construction of a $200 million ballroom in September
Trump appointed a senior White House aide, Will Scharf, to head the committee. Scharf distinguished between demolition and reconstruction work, saying that the committee was only required to examine the latter.

What happens to the East Room?

According to Trump, it will become a place where guests will mingle, drink cocktails and eat appetizers until they are called to the ballroom for dinner. Trump said a set of windows in the room would be removed to create a walkway to and from the ballroom.

What will the new hall look like?

Renderings released by the White House indicate a strong similarity to the gilded hall at Mar-a-Lago, Trump’s private club and home in Palm Beach, Florida.

The project has also grown in size since its announcement, going from accommodating 650 seated guests to accommodating 999 people, which is large enough to accommodate an inauguration if necessary, he said at a recent White House dinner for donors. He said the windows would be bulletproof.

When will the hall be completed?

The White House said the hall will be ready for use before Trump’s second term ends in January 2029, an ambitious timeline.

Has Trump made other changes in the White House?

Yes. He significantly redecorated the Oval Office by adding many pictures, busts, and gold decorations. He transformed the rose garden into a flagstone courtyard, installed towering flagpoles on the north and south lawns, and decorated an outdoor wall with portraits of every president except his immediate predecessor, Democrat Joe Biden.

Trump also said he renovated the bathroom in the famous Lincoln Bedroom into the private living quarters and put in marble floors in the corridor leading to the South Lawn.

How has construction changed the White House over the years?

Presidents have added to the White House since construction began in 1792 for a variety of reasons, and Trump aides say his decision to build a ballroom follows that long tradition.

Many previous projects were criticized as being too expensive or too lavish, but were eventually accepted, according to the White House Historical Association.

Thomas Jefferson added the east and west columns.

Andrew Jackson built the North Portico on the Pennsylvania Avenue side of the White House, along the South Portico that James Monroe added after rebuilding the original mansion after it was burned by the British during the War of 1812.

Theodore Roosevelt added the West Wing to provide designated space for the President and key staff, while Franklin Roosevelt added the East Wing, which over time became the home base for the First Lady’s staff and social functions.

One of the most significant White House renovations occurred under Harry Truman, when the mansion was found to be so structurally unsound that he ordered the complete demolition of the interior that lasted from 1948 to 1952. The project, including Truman’s addition of a balcony to the second floor of the South Portico, was highly controversial.

Other changes include the creation of the Rose Garden during the John F. Kennedy administration and Richard Nixon’s decision to convert the indoor swimming pool built for Franklin Roosevelt’s physical therapy into work space for the White House’s growing press corps.