Washington– WASHINGTON (AP) — Construction began this week on A $250 million ballroom That boss Donald Trump Addition to the White House as construction crews begin Demolishing the facade of the east wingWhere the new space is being built.
The 90,000-square-foot ballroom will be larger than the main White House itself, nearly twice its size, and Trump says it will seat 999 people.
Trump said on social media that the hall will not cost taxpayers a dime because it is privately funded by “many generous patriots, great American corporations, and yours truly.”
Here are some things to know about the latest White House construction project:
Trump says that the White House needs a large entertainment space, and complained that the East Room, which is currently the largest space in the White House, is very small and can accommodate about 200 people. He resented the previous practice of presidents hosting state dinners and other large events in tents on the South Lawn.
Trump says the project will be funded by private donations and no public funds will be spent on the hall. The White House promised to release information about the individuals and companies that pledged or donated money and invited some donors to a dinner in the East Room last week, but did not release a comprehensive list and breakdown of the funds.
About $22 million for the project came from YouTube, a subsidiary of Google, as part of a recent settlement Lawsuit 2021 Trump is against the company.
The White House also did not say how much money Trump is contributing from his own funds.
The East Wing is traditionally the social side of the White House and is located across East Executive Avenue from the Treasury Department. It is the place where tourists and other guests enter for events.
The president said on July 31 that the White House itself would remain intact while the hall was being prepared.
“It will not conflict with the existing building,” he said. “It will be near it but won’t touch it. And I have full respect for the current building, which I’m a big fan of.”
The White House said some demolition work is needed because the East Wing, the traditional home of the first lady and her staff, is being updated as part of the ballroom project.
It’s moving forward with construction though Lack of signature from the National Capital Planning Committee, It is the executive branch agency with jurisdiction over major construction and renovations of government buildings in the region.
Trump appointed a senior White House aide, Will Scharf, to head the committee. Scharf distinguished between demolition and reconstruction work, saying that the committee only has jurisdiction over the latter.
According to Trump, it will become a place where guests will mingle, drink cocktails and eat appetizers until they are called to the ballroom for dinner. Trump said a set of windows in the room would be removed to create a walkway to and from the ballroom.
Renderings released by the White House indicate a strong similarity to the gilded hall at Mar-a-Lago, Trump’s private club and home in Palm Beach, Florida.
The project has also grown in size since its announcement, going from accommodating 650 seated guests to accommodating 999 people, which is large enough to accommodate an inauguration if necessary, he said at a recent White House dinner for donors. He said the windows would be bulletproof.
The White House said the hall will be ready for use long before Trump’s term ends in January 2029, an ambitious timeline.
Yes. I have The Oval Office was substantially redecorated By adding many pictures, busts and gold decorations. he Transform your rose garden into a stone covered patioinstalled high-rise Flagpole On the northern and southern meadows The outside wall is decorated with portraits of each president Except for his immediate predecessor, Democrat Joe Biden.
Trump also said he renovated the bathroom in the famous Lincoln Bedroom into the private living quarters and put in marble floors in the corridor leading to the South Lawn.
Presidents have added to the White House since construction began in 1792 for a variety of reasons, and Trump aides say his decision to do so The construction of the dance hall follows this long tradition.
Many previous projects were criticized for being too expensive or too luxurious, but were eventually accepted, according to the center. White House Historical Association.
Thomas Jefferson added the east and west columns.
Andrew Jackson built the North Portico on the Pennsylvania Avenue side of the White House, along the South Portico that James Monroe added after rebuilding the original mansion after it was burned by the British during the War of 1812.
Theodore Roosevelt added the West Wing to provide designated space for the President and key staff, while Franklin Roosevelt added the East Wing, which over time became the home base for the First Lady’s staff and social functions.
One of the most significant White House renovations occurred under Harry Truman, when the mansion was found to be so structurally unsound that he ordered the complete demolition of the interior that lasted from 1948 to 1952. The project, including Truman’s addition of a balcony to the second floor of the South Portico, was highly controversial.
Other changes include the creation of the Rose Garden during the John F. Kennedy administration and Richard Nixon’s decision to convert the indoor swimming pool built for Franklin Roosevelt’s physical therapy into work space for the White House’s growing press corps.
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The Associated Press retracted an October 21 report that quoted White House press secretary Carolyn Leavitt as saying over the summer that “nothing is going to be demolished” in reference to the start of construction on the White House Ballroom and crews demolishing the facade of the East Wing. The AP incorrectly attributed this quote to Levitt in this story and two others, one on July 31 and October 20. It was a journalist, not Levitt, who said the quote while asking a question during a briefing Levitt gave reporters on July 31. The error was brought to the attention of the Associated Press on October 22.