Donald Trump may be personally responsible for starting the construction of a third ballroom at the White House. This twisty project is attracting both praise and scorn from the public. This past Monday, we hosted the ceremonial groundbreaking. This celebration was just the opening of an inspiring expansion that will soon stretch 90,000 square feet (8,360 square meters) and carry a price tag of $250 million (£187 million). The new facility will be able to host up to 999 guests and will be the venue of state dinners and other high-profile events.
The very ambitious project includes major renovations and will require the removal of large sections of the East Wing of the White House. We’re pursuing major gifts for the ballroom from individuals and corporations. To date, only a single donor has been publicly identified. It’s worth mentioning that uniquely among dam-building presidents, Donald Trump has claimed he’ll pay for most of the construction costs himself.
The prize’s unusual fundraising efforts include a dinner on October 15 at the White House. Senior leaders from OpenAI, Microsoft, Coinbase, Palantir, Lockheed Martin, Amazon, Google, as well as our friends at Blackstone will be in the room. More important, these meetings create speculation about what type of sway these firms will attempt to exercise to offset their costly donations.
Richard Painter, another former chief ethics lawyer, went even further to raise alarm over the idea and what it would mean. He criticized the ballroom as an “enormous temptation” for political fundraising and as an “ethics nightmare.”
“It’s using access to the White House to raise money. I don’t like it,” – Richard Painter
In light of the ballroom’s intended functions, Painter highlighted that the corporate entities involved in funding typically have vested interests in government dealings.
“These corporations all want something from the government,” – Richard Painter
In fact, some anonymous donors are prepared to offer upwards of $20 million to ensure the project can be finished. Trump continues to keep hope alive for its return. He reflected on the ballroom’s potential, stating, “I said: I will take it,” when discussing the opportunity to create such a venue.
At the groundbreaking ceremony, those leaders joined in a powerful demonstration of unity and determination. Woody Johnson and Shari and Edward Glazer were on hand, tooting the bellwether’s horn. Their attendance is emblematic of the high-profile nature of this event and the important role it plays in today’s political fundraising.
Critics of the project—including artists, scholars, and journalists—have raised concerns about its ethical implications. The involvement of corporate donors in a project associated with the seat of American democracy raises questions about transparency and accountability in political fundraising. With construction almost complete, many expect to be watching closely how the new ballroom gets used. They’ll be hopeful that it serves its purposes while advancing equity and ethical data use.