Former President Donald Trump recently released exuberant plans for a new White House ballroom. He knows that with this project, he will have an extraordinary showcase of the historic home’s stunning history. This new initiative is projected to cost $200 million. It would further re-enforce that image as a t-Rump, even as it carries on his own legacy of drastically altering the façade of the executive mansion.
If approved, the new ballroom would be the first structural addition to the White House since 1948. That’s when they were able to build the Truman Balcony. Trump has taken the art of presidential redecoration to new heights. He adds that using mass shelter—the temporary tents in inclement weather—simply isn’t sufficient. He emphasized this point by stating, “When it rains or snows, it’s a disaster.” The new venue will become a permanent home for these events. Over time, this change will become visible in the greatly improved overall functionality of the presidential residence.
In his announcement, Trump highlighted that tents are frequently erected “a football field away from the White House” during adverse weather conditions. This lack of a new dedicated ballroom led to year-long negotiations. As Trump himself proudly calls the project “his gift to the country.”
Donald Trump will personally underwrite such an ambitious and wasteful construction spree. He will accept donations from other “patriot donors,” the White House website states. This model of financing aligns with Trump’s previous initiatives, such as paving portions of the Rose Garden and adding gold filigree throughout the White House—changes that, although bold, are reversible.
With all of the above in mind, this new ballroom addition was intended to address these short-term needs right away. Second, it will have a major impact long after Trump exits the White House. The former president would agree that this progress is, indeed, way overdue. He doubles down on his ‘determination’ to make the White House an agent of change.