President Donald Trump began construction on the White House State Ballroom in the East Wing on Oct. 20, which notably replaces a visitor’s entrance and the office of the first lady. The ballroom will be 90,000 square feet with an updated capacity of 999 people instead of the original 650. It is projected to cost $300 million, which Trump stated will be privately funded.
The administration announced their construction plans on July 31. The project is set to be complete before the end of Trump’s term. Although the ballroom will be “substantially separated from the main building…it’s theme and architectural heritage will be almost identical,” said the White House.
Demolition began without approval from the National Capital Planning Commission, which typically regulates renovations to government buildings in Washington, D.C. However, a majority of the public opposes his renovation plans. A poll conducted by ABC News, The Washington Post, and Ipsos found that 56% of Americans oppose the renovation, 28% support them, and 16% are unsure.
The administration recently released a complete list of donors, including Amazon, Apple, Google, Lockheed Martin, Meta, and Microsoft. President Trump will also be contributing as well, although the amount from each donor is still unknown.
Trump is also replacing the six members of the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts, which is an independent federal agency that reviews the president and Congress’s design plans for structures such as monuments, memories, coins, and more. In place of them, the White House is “preparing to appoint a new slate of members to the commission that are more aligned with President Trump’s America First Policies.”
This has occurred in the past, such as during Biden’s presidency, where he fired four commissioners who were previously appointed by Trump. The new commissioners have not yet been announced.
However, the project has raised alarm and received criticism, specifically about the ethicality of the funding. Multiple donors have done business with the federal government in the past. There has been speculation that some of them may be contributing in order to receive something in return. Others have also highlighted the historical sanctity of the White House and the major changes that Trump’s construction will bring.
Furthermore, the ballroom plans include more space than what is typically needed for its guest capacity, although the structure is said to also include offices and other facilities. Current drawings of the ballroom show large chandeliers and Corinthian columns. The total project may cost around $3,000 per square foot, which is much higher than typical government construction costs that range from $200-800 per square foot.
Trump has already made changes to the White House in the past. This included redecorating the Oval Office and converting the Rose Garden into a patio, which was originally commemorative of the Kennedys.
Trump’s demolition of such a pivotal site of American pride illustrates a much wider issue in regard to how he executes his vision for America. Regardless of the nature of his intent, Trump should never be able to bypass Congress or any federal agency to achieve his goals. Especially in this case, Trump should not be able to destroy a historic testament to American endurance simply to host the billionaires, oligarchs, and political allies on his guest list. America must stand up to injustices like these or we not only risk the desecration of sacred historical artifacts, but setting a dangerous precedent for the remaining time in Trump’s second presidential term.