Trump Defends Ballooning Cost Of White House Ballroom, Cites Bigger Design and Private Funding

Trump Defends Rising Cost Of White House Ballroom

President Donald Trump on Saturday pushed back against criticism over the escalating cost of a planned White House ballroom, arguing the finished space will be "much bigger and more beautiful" than originally announced and reiterating that the project is being financed by private donations and some of his personal funds.

President’s Statement And Design Rationale

On Truth Social, Trump attacked CNN chief White House correspondent Kaitlan Collins for asking about the increasing price, misspelling her name in the post. He wrote that Collins of "Fake News CNN" was "always Stupid and Nasty," and defended the higher estimate by saying the ballroom will be twice the size and will feature upgraded finishes.

"It's just much bigger and more beautiful than originally planned... It is actually under budget and ahead of schedule, as my jobs always are," Trump wrote, also saying that "there are no taxpayer dollars involved. It is being fully paid for by private donations."

He added that the "column span has been substantially increased for purposes of viewing," a technical explanation offered to justify the rising costs.

Costs, Timeline And Contractors

The White House initially announced in July that the ballroom, adjacent to the East Wing, would cost $200 million. Public statements by the president later cited $300 million, and a White House official told ABC News in late October that estimates had climbed to $350 million. Though Trump previously said construction would not affect existing structures, the project drew renewed controversy after the entire East Wing was demolished in October.

Architect James McCrery II and his firm were originally tapped to lead the design. The administration confirmed on Thursday that architect Shalom Baranes—known for designing government buildings—will take over the project, with McCrery remaining as a consultant. White House spokesperson Davis Ingle praised Baranes’ experience, saying his work has helped shape the capital’s architectural identity.

Donations And Political Pushback

During demolition, the White House released a list of corporate donors who pledged to help cover the ballroom’s cost. That list includes major technology and defense companies: Amazon, Apple, Google, Meta Platforms, Lockheed Martin, Comcast, Microsoft, Palantir, Union Pacific and T-Mobile. Trump said he would also contribute some of his own funds to the project.

The donor list prompted scrutiny from lawmakers. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and 10 other Democrats sent letters to several of the companies asking whether donations raised any potential "quid-pro-quo" concerns amid ongoing antitrust cases and other federal investigations.

Public Reaction And Historical Concerns

The demolition and ballroom project have drawn criticism from lawmakers, historians, commentators and some former White House residents and staff. Former first lady Michelle Obama called the reconfiguration "a loss for us as a nation," noting the East Wing’s long history that dates back to early 1800s construction under Thomas Jefferson. Michael LaRosa, who served as a White House aide under President Biden, described the change as "sad" but "probably needed," while Chelsea Clinton likened the demolition to "a wrecking ball to our heritage."

A Washington Post–ABC News–Ipsos poll in October found that 56% of Americans "somewhat" or "strongly" oppose the ambitious ballroom project.

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