Whispers once circulated quietly among White House insiders—glimpses of lavish sketches, shipments of ornate fixtures arriving without explanation, and hushed meetings behind closed doors.
Now, those whispers have become official: the East Wing of the White House is poised for a monumental makeover. The centerpiece? A dazzling new ballroom, dripping in gold, designed to rival the grandest royal halls.
With a jaw-dropping price tag of $200 million, critics are already questioning whether this ambitious renovation is about preserving history—or about crafting Donald Trump’s personal legacy in gilded stone.
Donald Trump recently unveiled plans for an extravagant overhaul of the White House’s East Wing, promising what his team calls an “exquisite addition” that will dramatically redefine the historic residence’s footprint.
According to the latest announcement, the White House will gain a colossal ballroom stretching across 90,000 square feet—big enough to host up to 650 guests, far eclipsing the capacity of the existing East Room, which accommodates roughly 200. For years, organizers of major events have resorted to unsightly outdoor tents to manage overflow crowds, a problem this grand space aims to solve.
“The new White House Ballroom will stand largely apart from the main structure but will closely reflect the architectural heritage of the original building,” the statement declared, as reported by PEOPLE. “It will rise where the heavily altered East Wing currently sits.”
Blueprints reveal a design steeped in classic White House aesthetics: opulent gold chandeliers, an intricately decorated ceiling, and a sweeping open floor. True to Trump’s famously lavish tastes, gilded accents will be a signature element throughout the new space.
Funded by Trump himself alongside private donors, construction is slated to begin this September. While no official completion date has been set, officials assure the ballroom will be ready “well before the end of President Trump’s term.”
This renovation follows other controversial changes on the White House grounds, most notably the removal of the Rose Garden lawn—a beloved feature since the Kennedy era. Trump justified replacing the grass with a concrete patio by citing the difficulties women faced wearing heels on the uneven lawn. The administration defended the decision as a respectful restoration, preserving the garden’s historical integrity.
Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt emphasized that the East Wing itself won’t be completely demolished, but rather “modernized.” Offices traditionally used by the First Lady and her team will be temporarily relocated to accommodate the construction.
Conclusion
Trump’s $200 million facelift of the East Wing stands as one of the most dramatic White House transformations in recent history—melding historic preservation with unmistakable grandeur.
The new ballroom, dripping in gold and built to host hundreds, perfectly mirrors Trump’s flair for opulence while solving a longstanding problem of event space. Whether this project will be celebrated as a tasteful upgrade or criticized as a lavish vanity project, it undeniably stamps Trump’s personal vision on one of America’s most iconic symbols of power.