Trump's $400m White House Ballroom Plans Revealed in New Renderings
Demolition work continues at the site where the East Wing once stood at the White House in Washington, D.C., as new architectural renderings provide the most detailed vision yet of Donald Trump's proposed $400 million ballroom addition. The renderings, submitted by the project's architects and released by the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC), depict a vast sprawling structure expected to cover approximately 90,000 square feet, standing level with the White House mansion.
Controversial Demolition and Legal Challenges
Trump sparked significant public backlash when he abruptly began demolishing the East Wing in October to clear space for his ballroom, before construction plans had been formally submitted to oversight bodies. White House officials initially claimed that demolition did not require commission approval, promising to present construction plans to proper commissions later. However, in December, the National Trust for Historic Preservation filed a federal lawsuit seeking to block the construction, arguing that the administration violated multiple laws by tearing down parts of the White House without proper review.
Architectural Details and Commission Review
The renderings appear in a 28-page document titled "East Wing Modernization," dated 11 February, submitted ahead of a 5 March NCPC hearing where board members are scheduled to discuss the proposal. According to CNN, the renderings were removed from the NCPC website shortly after being uploaded on Friday, with the commission not responding to requests for comment about the removal. Trump has appointed several allies to the NCPC commission and installed loyalists at the Commission of Fine Arts, which is also tasked with reviewing the ballroom plans.
Project Financing and Design Changes
The ballroom project is being financed by private donors and large corporations including Meta, Apple, Amazon, Lockheed Martin, Microsoft, Palantir Technologies, Google, and Comcast. In December, Trump replaced the architect originally selected to design the gilded ballroom following reports of disagreements, subsequently choosing Shalom Baranes Associates to lead the project. Earlier this week, Trump shared two renderings of the ballroom on social media, declaring, "It is on budget, and ahead of schedule! When completed, it will be the finest Ballroom ever built anywhere in the World."
Administration Defense and Preservation Efforts
In a 5 February memo to the NCPC, Joshua Fisher, director of the White House Office of Administration, defended the administration's decision to demolish the East Wing. Fisher stated that demolition and reconstruction provided the most effective solution to longstanding issues affecting the White House and delivered the best long-term risk reduction. He emphasized that preservationists from the National Park Service and General Services Administration advised on and documented the removal of historical elements, with significant items meticulously preserved including the East Wing cornerstone, movie theater furniture, columns, wood paneling, chandeliers, and historic windows and doors.
Future Plans and Visitor Experience
Fisher added that the administration plans to integrate some preserved items into the new structure and has kept heavy equipment at a safe distance from the White House mansion to prevent damage. Beyond the ballroom, the administration has plans for beautifying the visitor experience in areas such as Lafayette Park, Sherman Park, First Division Park, and the Ellipse, while working to establish a more efficient White House visitor security screening center. Trump noted that the ballroom's unprecedented structural, safety, and security features would also make it suitable for future presidential inaugurations.
