New White House Ballroom Project Set to Bear Trump’s Name Amid Official Confirmations
In a significant development for the White House’s architectural and cultural future, officials indicate that the new grand ballroom under construction at the White House is likely to be named after former President Donald J. Trump. The announcement comes as demolition of the East Wing progresses and preparations intensify for the creation of this $200 million privately funded structure, marking a transformative addition to the Executive Residence.
The White House Ballroom project, spearheaded by President Trump and supported by patriotic donors, began with demolition of the current East Wing—a structure originally built in 1902 and repeatedly renovated, most notably with a second floor added in 1942. According to White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, the initiative reflects President Trump’s passion for building with an eye for detail, aiming to preserve the historical heritage while introducing a new space designed to be enjoyed by future administrations.
“President Trump is a builder at heart and has an extraordinary eye for detail,” Wiles stated. “The President and the Trump White House are fully committed to working with the appropriate organizations to preserving the special history of the White House while building a beautiful ballroom that can be enjoyed by future Administrations and generations of Americans to come.” The new ballroom is planned to be substantially separate from the main White House building but closely echo its architectural style and heritage.
Construction, managed by Clark Construction with engineering led by AECOM, began in September 2025 and aims for completion well before the end of Trump’s presidential term. The United States Secret Service is tasked with implementing necessary security enhancements to the site. Despite demolition commencing, official plans for the ballroom had not immediately been submitted to the National Capital Planning Commission at the time of reporting, though the White House confirmed intent to do so.
President Trump defended the transparency of the project amid media scrutiny, asserting he had shown the architectural renderings widely. He emphasized the necessity of demolishing the entire East Wing rather than attempt a partial preservation, saying, “We determined that after really a tremendous amount of study with some of the best architects in the world, we had to take down the existing structure to do it properly.” These remarks came during an event also announcing new sanctions on Russia.
The White House Historical Association confirmed preservation efforts, revealing that all historical components of the East Wing had been digitally scanned, photographed, carefully preserved, and stored. These artifacts remain under the supervision of the White House Executive Residence and the National Park Service, ensuring the legacy of the original East Wing is maintained and accessible for future use.
The addition of the new ballroom carries forward a century-long presidential tradition of adapting and expanding the White House. Past presidents have modernized and enhanced various aspects—such as John F. Kennedy’s Rose Garden creation in 1962, Richard Nixon’s conversion of the swimming pool into a press briefing room, and Barack Obama’s addition of the White House Kitchen Garden. More recently, President Trump oversaw the completion of a White House tennis pavilion and other refurbishments ahead of this ballroom project.
With a planned capacity of 650 people, the new ballroom will significantly enhance the White House’s ability to host major functions honoring world leaders, foreign dignitaries, and national celebrations. The project symbolizes a mix of preservation and modernization, with strong private support framing this historic expansion.
The White House pledges to continue providing updates to the public via their website as construction progresses. The naming of the ballroom after President Trump, as officials suggest, appears poised to add a lasting presidential legacy to the storied Executive Mansion.