When President Donald Trump pulled the drape off a scale model in the Oval Office this week, the subject wasn’t policy or defence — it was marble. The President unveiled plans for what he called the “most beautiful ballroom anywhere in the world,” a $300 million addition to the White House that he says will be funded entirely by private donors and his own money.
A builder’s dream inside the White House
Mr. Trump told reporters the project had already raised $350 million, exceeding its estimated cost. “All donor money and money that we put up, we’ve raised,” he said. “It’s going to be… the most beautiful ballroom anywhere in the world, I think.”
Asked how much of his own fortune he was contributing, Mr. Trump smiled: “I won’t be able to tell you until I finish, but I’ll donate whatever is needed, I’ll tell you that.” He added later, “Oh, millions of dollars. Yeah.”
The ballroom — sometimes referred to by aides as the Trump Ballroom — will replace the existing East Wing structure, with renderings showing chandeliers, sweeping staircases, and arched windows. Its neoclassical design, reminiscent of Mar-a-Lago, reflects the president’s long-standing affinity for grand interiors and visible legacy projects.
