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Construction is underway on the East Wing of the White House, where a new grand ballroom is being constructed, marking one of the most significant updates to the residence in over a century. Workers have begun dismantling parts of the East Wing to clear space for this major project, which President Donald Trump describes as “large, stunning, and built to stand for generations.”
Photographs taken at the scene show a mechanical excavator tearing through the East Wing’s exterior, leaving behind debris and twisted steel. During a visit with college baseball players on Monday, Trump mentioned, “There’s a lot of construction happening just on the other side that you might hear now and then.”
Later that day, the president formally announced the commencement of work on the ballroom, which will become the largest addition to the White House in more than 100 years. He shared on his Truth Social platform, “I’m happy to report that the new, magnificent White House Ballroom has officially broken ground.” Trump also highlighted that the East Wing is being “completely updated” and will be more beautiful once finished.
Typically, the East Wing houses the offices of the first ladies, while the president operates from the West Wing, and the residence itself is the main mansion. Although Trump stated the East Wing is separate from the main building, it’s actually connected via a covered colonnade.
The new ballroom is planned to cover 90,000 square feet and will seat up to 1,000 guests. It aims to accommodate large state dinners and events that are currently held in temporary tents. Trump hosted a high-profile dinner at the White House last week to raise funds for the project, inviting representatives from major companies like Amazon, Apple, Meta, Google, Microsoft, Palantir, and Lockheed Martin, many of which have commercial ties with the government. The event also featured twins Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, founders of the crypto platform Gemini, famously portrayed in “The Social Network.”
Trump emphasized that the ballroom’s funding is coming from “many generous Patriots, great American companies, and myself,” and expressed confidence that it will be a treasured space for future generations. This project is part of a broader overhaul of the White House since Trump’s return to power in January, which has included decorating the Oval Office with gold accents and transforming the Rose Garden.
Additionally, Trump has proposed an arch in Washington, dubbed the “Arc de Trump,” a plan first reported by AFP, highlighting his ongoing efforts to revitalize and expand the iconic residence.
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