Trump Plans $300M White House Ballroom Named After Himself

President Trump has launched construction of a privately funded, multihundred‑million‑dollar expansion of the White House: a roughly 90,000‑square‑foot ballroom that required rapid demolition of much of the East Wing and would nearly double the residence’s footprint. Reports vary on the exact cost and fundraising — outlets cite figures from about $200 million to $300 million (with one report saying $350 million raised) — and the administration says major tech and crypto firms are among donors. Senior officials and multiple outlets say the space is likely to be named “The President Donald J. Trump Ballroom,” though Trump has not formally confirmed a name. The speed and scope of the teardown — crews moved in and razed the East Wing in only days — and the project’s scale have drawn sharp criticism from historians, preservationists and Democrats, who say it damages White House history and raise concerns about donor influence. The White House counters that modernizations are common across presidencies and that a larger event space is needed, but public details on the ballroom’s design and how excess funds (if any) will be handled remain limited.