President Donald Trump on Thursday announced plans for a massive new ballroom at the White House, fulfilling a long-held ambition to expand the executive mansion’s entertainment capacity and eliminate the need for temporary tents during major state functions.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced that construction on the 90,000-square-foot White House State Ballroom will begin in September 2025, with an estimated cost of $200 million. The project will be privately funded by Trump and other donors, with no taxpayer money involved.
The new ballroom represents a dramatic expansion of the White House’s hosting capabilities. The facility will accommodate 650 seated guests, more than triple the 200-person capacity of the East Room, currently the largest event space in the White House.
“For 150 years, Presidents, Administrations, and White House Staff have longed for a large event space on the White House complex that can hold substantially more guests than currently allowed,” Leavitt said during Thursday’s press briefing. She noted that the White House is currently “unable to host major functions honoring world leaders and other countries without having to install a large and unsightly tent approximately 100 yards away from the main building entrance.”
Design and Construction Details
The ballroom will be built where the current East Wing sits, with McCrery Architects serving as the lead architectural firm. CEO Jim McCrery expressed his honor at being selected, stating: “Presidents in the modern era have faced challenges hosting major events at the White House because it has been untouched since President Harry Truman. I am honored that President Trump has entrusted me to help bring this beautiful and necessary renovation to The People’s House, while preserving the elegance of its classical design and historical importance.”
Clark Construction will head the construction team, while AECOM will lead engineering efforts. Renderings released by the White House show a lavishly appointed space featuring gold and crystal chandeliers, gilded Corinthian columns, a coffered ceiling with gold inlays, and a checkered marble floor.
The ballroom will be “substantially separated from the main building of the White House” while maintaining a “theme and architectural heritage” that is “almost identical” to the executive mansion. Three walls of arched windows will look out over the White House’s south grounds.
Trump Offered to Build a Ballroom for Obama
This announcement represents the culmination of at least 15 years of advocacy by Trump for such a facility. In 2010, Trump called David Axelrod, an adviser to then-President Barack Obama, offering his services to build a ballroom after seeing a state dinner held in a tent on the White House lawn.
Recent meetings have included White House staff, the National Park Service, the White House Military Office, and the U.S. Secret Service to discuss design features and planning details.
Trump Hopes to Christen Room Before His Term Ends
Construction is expected to be completed “long before the end of President Trump’s term”. Current East Wing offices, including the first lady’s office, the White House military office, and visitor office, will be temporarily relocated during construction.
White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles emphasized the project’s significance: “President Trump is a builder at heart and has an extraordinary eye for detail. The President and the Trump White House are fully committed to working with the appropriate organizations to preserve the special history of the White House while building a beautiful ballroom that future Administrations and generations of Americans can enjoy to come.”
The ballroom project represents another significant modification to the White House during Trump’s second term, following recent additions of new flagpoles, Oval Office renovations, and the ongoing paving of the Rose Garden.