Trump celebrates White House demolition as new ballroom rises: ‘Music to my ears’
In a bold move that has sparked both admiration and controversy, President Donald Trump has announced the construction of a lavish, privately funded $200 million ballroom at the White House, marking a significant addition to the East Wing. This ambitious project is being touted by White House officials as a necessary modernization that continues a long-standing tradition of presidential upgrades dating back over a century. Photos of the East Wing’s façade being demolished quickly circulated online, igniting a wave of criticism from opponents who questioned the need for such an extravagant expenditure. In response, the White House defended the initiative, labeling the negative reactions as “fake outrage” from “unhinged leftists.” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt emphasized that previous presidents, including Barack Obama, have expressed a desire for expanded event spaces, noting that Obama once had to host a state dinner on the South Lawn due to limitations in the existing facilities.
The ballroom project is positioned as a fulfillment of a long-held dream by past presidents, with Trump stating, “For more than 150 years, every President has dreamt about having a Ballroom.” He expressed pride in being the first to initiate this long-awaited endeavor, which is funded entirely by private donations from “generous Patriots, Great American Companies, and yours truly,” thereby ensuring no cost to taxpayers. Trump further explained the rationale behind the project, asserting that the East Room, currently the largest indoor space, is insufficient for the needs of state functions, accommodating only about 88 guests. During a Diwali event at the White House, he reiterated his commitment to enhancing the presidential residence, humorously suggesting that he could have pocketed a salary but instead chose to invest in the property.
The ballroom’s construction is part of a broader narrative of modernization and expansion at the White House, with a historical context provided by previous renovations, such as Theodore Roosevelt’s West Wing and Obama’s Kitchen Garden. The administration has highlighted these examples to reinforce the idea that such upgrades are a natural evolution of the executive residence, aimed at meeting contemporary needs. As the project progresses, it remains to be seen how public sentiment will evolve, particularly as Trump continues to champion the ballroom as a symbol of American excellence and a legacy for future generations.
Related articles:
– Link 1
– Link 2
President
Donald Trump
‘s privately funded $200 million White House ballroom is the latest “bold, necessary addition” to the executive residence, officials said, describing the East Wing construction as a continuation of presidential upgrades dating back more than a century.
Photos of the East Wing façade being demolished went viral Monday, prompting criticism online and a swift rebuttal from the White House,
which wrote that
“unhinged leftists and their Fake News allies are clutching their pearls over President Donald J. Trump’s visionary addition of a grand, privately funded ballroom … a bold, necessary addition that echoes the storied history of improvements and additions from commanders-in-chief to keep the executive residence a beacon of American excellence.”
White House press secretary
Karoline Leavitt
echoed the president’s message Tuesday on “Jesse Watters Primetime,” saying, “I believe there’s a lot of fake outrage right now.
HILLARY CLINTON FIRES UP VOTERS AGAINST TRUMP’S WHITE HOUSE BALLROOM CONSTRUCTION: ‘NOT HIS HOUSE”
“Nearly every single president who’s lived in this beautiful White House behind me has made modernizations and renovations of their own,” Leavitt added. “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.
“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.”
In an
article shared Tuesday
, the administration listed more than a dozen examples of leaders “renovating, expanding and modernizing” the property to “meet the needs of the present day,” from Theodore Roosevelt’s West Wing in 1902 to
Barack Obama’s
Kitchen Garden in 2009.
Trump first confirmed the ballroom project Monday on Truth Social, writing, “I am pleased to announce that ground has been broken … to build the new, big, beautiful
White House
Ballroom. Completely separate from the White House itself, the East Wing is being fully modernized … and will be more beautiful than ever when it is complete!”
“For more than 150 years, every President has dreamt about having a Ballroom … I am honored to be the first President to finally get this much-needed project underway — with zero cost to the American Taxpayer!” he continued, crediting “many generous Patriots, Great American Companies, and yours truly” for funding the build. “This Ballroom will be happily used for Generations to come!”
The White House’s Rapid Response 47 account also shared a detailed thread on X Tuesday showing how past presidents “have been renovating, expanding, and modernizing the White House to meet the needs of the current day.”
TRUMP BREAKS GROUND ON MASSIVE WHITE HOUSE BALLROOM PROJECT WITH PRIVATE FUNDING FROM ‘PATRIOTS’
Trump elaborated Tuesday, calling the federal government “this big for nothing.”
“We’re building a world-class ballroom,” he said. “You probably hear the beautiful sound of construction to the back here. That’s music to my ears. People don’t like it. I love it. When I hear that sound, it reminds me of money. In this case, a lack of money, because I’m paying for it.”
Trump also noted that the East Room, currently the largest indoor event space, is little more than “a cocktail area” that holds about 88 people.
During a Diwali event at the White House Tuesday night, Trump again referenced the project and his decision not to accept a salary, quipping that “they probably owe me a lot of money” for everything he’s put into the building.
“If I get money from our country, I’ll do something nice with it. Like give it to charity or give it to the White House,” he said. “We restore the White House, and we’re doing a great job. The ballroom is under construction. They’ve been trying to get it for 150 years.”
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
The ballroom project is the latest in Trump’s improvements to the property, which include an overhaul of the Rose Garden and the Palm Room.
The White House did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
Fox News Digital’s Greg Wehner contributed to this report.
Eric
Eric is a seasoned journalist covering US Politics news.
