US Politics

White House responds to reports Trump named new ballroom after himself

By Eric October 25, 2025

The White House recently addressed speculation surrounding President Donald Trump’s plans to name the new ballroom being constructed at the White House after himself. White House spokesman Davis Ingle clarified that any official naming announcement would come directly from the president, rather than through unnamed sources. This statement followed reports suggesting that administration officials were already referring to the space as “The President Donald J. Trump Ballroom.” When asked about the name, Trump remained noncommittal, stating, “I won’t get into that now.” The ballroom, which was announced to be under construction, is a privately funded project aimed at modernizing the White House, with Trump emphasizing that it would not cost taxpayers anything.

The announcement of the ballroom’s construction has sparked significant backlash from Democrats and critics, who view the project as a vanity initiative and a disruption to the historical integrity of the White House. Notable figures, including Senator Elizabeth Warren and former first daughter Chelsea Clinton, took to social media to express their discontent, framing the demolition of part of the White House as an erasure of American heritage. Warren criticized the timing of the project amidst rising living costs, while Clinton remarked on the implications of altering the “People’s House.” New Jersey Senator Andy Kim also joined the chorus of criticism, suggesting that a billionaire-funded ballroom was unnecessary for celebrating America.

In defense of the project, the Trump administration has pointed out that many past presidents have sought to modernize and enhance the White House to better accommodate state functions. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt noted that previous presidents, including Barack Obama, have expressed desires for larger event spaces. This context highlights a long-standing tradition of presidential renovations, even as the current project faces scrutiny. As the ballroom progresses, it remains to be seen how the naming controversy and public sentiment will evolve, particularly as Trump continues to advocate for the project as a legacy of American grandeur.

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The White House pushed back on reports claiming President
Donald Trump
will likely name the upcoming White House ballroom after himself, saying any name designation for the event space will come directly from the president.
“Any announcement made on the name of the ballroom will come directly from President Trump himself, and not through anonymous and unnamed sources,” White House spokesman Davis Ingle told Fox News Digital Friday.
Reports spread like wildfire Friday afternoon that Trump planned to name the ballroom after himself, with ABC News publishing a report that administration officials were reportedly already calling the project “The President Donald J. Trump Ballroom.”
“I won’t get into that now,” Trump told
ABC News
Thursday when asked about a potential name, the outlet noted.
DAVID MARCUS: TRUMP’S BALLROOM IS NO VANITY PROJECT, IT’S ABOUT AMERICAN GRANDEUR
Trump announced Monday that construction had begun on the ballroom, after months of Trump touting the upcoming project to modernize the White House. The project does not cost taxpayers and is privately funded, the administration has repeatedly said.
“For more than 150 years, every President has dreamt about having a Ballroom at the White House to accommodate people for grand parties, State Visits, etc. I am honored to be the first President to finally get this much-needed project underway — with zero cost to the American Taxpayer!” Trump posted to Truth Social on Monday. “The
White House
Ballroom is being privately funded by many generous Patriots, Great American Companies, and, yours truly. This Ballroom will be happily used for Generations to come!”
TRUMP CELEBRATES WHITE HOUSE DEMOLITION AS NEW BALLROOM RISES: ‘MUSIC TO MY EARS’
The ballroom’s official construction set off a firestorm of criticisms among Democrats who have characterized Trump as destroying the iconic American residence.
“Oh you’re trying to say the cost of living is skyrocketing?
Donald Trump
can’t hear you over the sound of bulldozers demolishing a wing of the White House to build a new grand ballroom,” Democratic Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren posted to X in response to Trump’s Monday announcement.
“The White House became my home when I was twelve years old. I always understood that it wasn’t my ‘house’; it was The People’s House,” former first daughter
Chelsea Clinton posted to X
. “The erasure of the East Wing isn’t just about marble or plaster — it’s about President Trump again taking a wrecking ball to our heritage, while targeting our democracy, and the rule-of-law.”
“I wanted to share this photo of my family standing by a historic part of the White House that was just torn down today by Trump,” New Jersey Sen. Andy Kim posted to
X Monday.
“We didn’t need a billionaire-funded ballroom to celebrate America. Disgusting what Trump is doing.”
HILLARY CLINTON FIRES UP VOTERS AGAINST TRUMP’S WHITE HOUSE BALLROOM CONSTRUCTION: ‘NOT HIS HOUSE”
The Trump administration has repeatedly hit back at the criticisms, including White House press secretary
Karoline Leavitt
saying on Fox News that presidents historically have wanted a large entertaining space at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.
“Nearly
every single president
who’s lived in this beautiful White House behind me has made modernizations and renovations of their own,” Leavitt said on Fox News’ “Jesse Watters Primetime” Tuesday. “In fact, presidents for decades — in modern times — have joked about how they wished they had a larger event space here at the White House, something that could hold hundreds more people than the current East Room and State Dining Room.”
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“President Obama even complained that, during his tenure, he had to hold a state dinner on the South Lawn and rent a very expensive tent.”