Jerusalem Post/US PoliticsUS President Donald Trump was directly involved in negotiating some costs for the ballroom, A Washington Post report said.Follow us on GoogleConstruction of the new White House ballroom continues as crews work to break down the Ultimate Fighting Championship Freedom 250 "Claw," a 92-foot-tall temporary stadium on the South Lawn, on June 28, 2026 in Washington, DC. (photo credit: Al Drago/Getty Images)ByREUTERSJUNE 30, 2026 14:36White House officials last year awarded a no-bid contract worth up to $500 million for the construction of the East Wing ballroom, The Washington Post reported on Tuesday, citing a copy of the agreement.The contract was awarded through the Executive Residence, an office that is exempt from rules requiring federal agencies to seek competitive bids and publicly disclose contract details, according to the report.US President Donald Trump was directly involved in negotiating some costs for the ballroom, The Washington Post report said.The contract was awarded to Virginia-based Clark Construction, which charged a 3% profit for its early work on the East Wing, the newspaper added.Construction continues on the planned White House ballroom, in the area of the former East Wing, in Washington, D.C., U.S., June 22, 2026. (credit: Reuters/Kylie Cooper)Ballroom renovation part of ambitious, controversial Trump revamp of WashingtonReuters could not verify the report. The White House and Clark Construction did not immediately respond to Reuters' request for comment.The renovation of the ballroom is part of Trump's ambitious revamp of Washington, which also includes plans for a 250-foot (76-meter) arch, a refurbishment of the National Mall reflecting pool, and a new promenade for the Lincoln Memorial.The president had previously said he and wealthy donors would fund the ballroom project, but later asked Congress for $1 billion in taxpayer money for security upgrades. Senate Republicans, with an eye on the November midterm elections, said no.Follow us on Google