 "Inside Trump’s 90,000 square foot and Rs 1,800-crore White House ballroom plan")
The White House has announced that work on a new $200 million ballroom will begin in September.
This marks the latest update to what is often called “The People’s House” since the Republican president returned to power in January.
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The ballroom will be constructed next to a ‘modernised’ East Wing, which is where the First Lady’s office and other key roles are currently based.
The move comes after repeated promises by Trump to build a “beautiful” ballroom at the White House. In 2016, he had offered to fund a $100 million ballroom during Barack Obama’s term, but the proposal was turned down.
In this explainer, we break down what the new $200 million state ballroom will include.
Let’s take a look:
Trump’s $200 million White House ballroom project: What to expect
For months, Trump has spoken about the need for a proper ballroom at the White House.
He argued that the current space is too small for large gatherings and criticised the idea of hosting world leaders and other guests in outdoor tents, as past presidents have done for state dinners with hundreds in attendance.
Now, that plan is moving forward.
The White House has confirmed that construction will begin this September. The project is expected to cost $200 million (nearly Rs 1,800 crore).
Impact Shorts
More ShortsThe 90,000-square-foot ballroom will fulfil a goal Trump has spoken about for over 15 years. He has long wanted to create a space that expands the White House’s capacity for official events.
This will also be the first major change to the Executive Mansion since 1948, when the Truman balcony was added.
Notably, Trump has already made noticeable changes to the Oval Office, adding gold ornaments, cherubs, presidential portraits, and more.
He also had large flagpoles installed on both the north and south lawns to fly the American flag. Work is also underway to replace the grass in the Rose Garden with stone.
Trump said the ballroom plan has been in the works for a while and that it would not interfere with the main building.
“They’ve wanted a ballroom at the White House for more than 150 years but there’s never been a president that was good at ballrooms,” he told reporters.
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Speaking about the new addition, he said, “It’ll be near it but not touching it and pays total respect to the existing building, which I’m the biggest fan of. It’s my favourite. It’s my favourite place. I love it.”
He added that the ballroom would be useful for future presidents and called it a “great legacy project.”
The new ballroom will replace the current East Wing, with room to seat 650 guests.
The East Wing, which houses several offices, including the First Lady’s, will be modernised as part of the project. Those offices will be temporarily moved during the work, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said.
She also said that Trump and other donors would cover the cost of the renovation. According to The New York Times, McCrery Architects and Clark Construction have been chosen for the project.
Once completed, the new space will allow the White House to welcome hundreds more guests for official events.
What do the White House renderings reveal?
Images shared on the White House website offer a first look at the planned ballroom.
The visuals show a large, elegant space featuring gold and crystal chandeliers, Corinthian-style columns finished in gold, a detailed coffered ceiling with golden highlights, tall gold floor lamps, and a checkered marble floor.
Three sides of the room are lined with tall arched windows that look out onto the White House’s south grounds. Visible outside is a large new flagpole, another feature recently added by Trump.
From the outside, the renderings show the ballroom extending onto the South Lawn, with a long colonnade along one side. The eastern wall has a Palladian design with columns and a decorative pediment.
The interior design closely resembles the grand event hall at Mar-a-Lago, Trump’s Palm Beach estate, known for its Louis XIV-style decor. Trump has often used his private properties as a source of design inspiration.
The new ballroom will reflect the overall look and feel of the neoclassical Executive Mansion. It will also be larger than the current East Room, offering seating for over three times as many guests.
The White House described the ballroom as a “much-needed and exquisite addition”.
With inputs from agencies
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