Trump Raises Over $350M from Tech and Defense Firms for White House Ballroom Expansion

President Donald Trump is overseeing a $300 million project to construct a 90,000-square-foot ballroom on the site of the demolished East Wing of the White House. The entire cost is being covered by private donations from numerous major corporations including Amazon, Apple, Google, Microsoft, Palantir, Lockheed Martin, as well as crypto firms and affluent individuals, with Trump personally committing to contribute as needed. This initiative has faced criticism from Democrats, preservationists, and historians due to the demolition of the historic East Wing and the project's rising costs. The involvement of influential tech companies marks a notable shift in their relationship with Trump's administration, possibly influenced by ongoing antitrust litigation against these firms. Despite the controversies, the White House emphasizes transparency and assures that no taxpayer money is being used. This ballroom addition reflects the administration's ambition to modernize the White House and signals growing corporate engagement in cultural projects under Trump's presidency.