President Trump told guests at the Congressional Ball that the new White House ballroom is expected to be finished in "about a year and a half," a timeline that could extend into a second term if his schedule holds. The project has provoked criticism after demolition of the East Wing to make way for the addition. Senate Democrats including Chuck Schumer, Richard Blumenthal and Elizabeth Warren publicly condemned the plan, while Mr. Trump defended the expense and promised a larger, more beautiful venue.
Trump Predicts White House Ballroom Will Be Ready “About a Year and a Half” Amid East Wing Demolition Backlash
President Donald Trump told guests at the Congressional Ball on Thursday that the new White House ballroom should be finished in "about a year and a half," a timeline that could place completion before the end of a potential second term if the schedule holds.
Speaking at the event, Mr. Trump welcomed attendees and framed the project as the culmination of a long-standing effort:
"I want to welcome you all to the White House. It's an honor to have you. It's a special place. You know, for 150 years, they've been trying to do a ballroom. They never got it up, but we got it off. In a very short period of time, like about a year and a half, you're going to have the best ballroom anywhere in the country."
Controversy Over East Wing Demolition
The planned ballroom followed demolition of the White House East Wing to create space for the addition, a move that has drawn significant public and political criticism. Opponents have called the project unnecessary and poorly timed amid broader economic concerns.
Democratic Responses
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) labeled the project a "vanity project," while Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) described the removal of the East Wing as "heartbreaking." Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) criticized the undertaking on social media, saying critics of rising living costs could not be heard "over the sound of bulldozers demolishing a wing of the White House to build a new grand ballroom."
Trump's Defense
Last Saturday, President Trump defended the expense, telling critics the finished space will be "much bigger and more beautiful" and arguing the project will deliver long-term value for the White House's ceremonial functions.
The ballroom project remains a flashpoint in debates over White House spending and preservation. Officials have not released a detailed public timeline or full cost breakdown tied to the construction beyond the administration's statements about size and scope.
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