The White House said President Trump would directly reveal a name for the planned White House ballroom. (Eric Lee/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Trump announced Monday that construction had begun on the ballroom, after months of Trump touting the upcoming project to modernize the White House. The project does not cost taxpayers and is privately funded, the administration has repeatedly said.
"For more than 150 years, every President has dreamt about having a Ballroom at the White House to accommodate people for grand parties, State Visits, etc. I am honored to be the first President to finally get this much-needed project underway — with zero cost to the American Taxpayer!" Trump posted to Truth Social on Monday. "The White House Ballroom is being privately funded by many generous Patriots, Great American Companies, and, yours truly. This Ballroom will be happily used for Generations to come!"
TRUMP CELEBRATES WHITE HOUSE DEMOLITION AS NEW BALLROOM RISES: ‘MUSIC TO MY EARS’
A McCrery Architects rendering provided by the White House of the exterior of the new ballroom. (White House)
"I wanted to share this photo of my family standing by a historic part of the White House that was just torn down today by Trump," New Jersey Sen. Andy Kim posted to X Monday. "We didn’t need a billionaire-funded ballroom to celebrate America. Disgusting what Trump is doing."
HILLARY CLINTON FIRES UP VOTERS AGAINST TRUMP'S WHITE HOUSE BALLROOM CONSTRUCTION: 'NOT HIS HOUSE''
The Trump administration has repeatedly hit back at the criticisms, including White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt saying on Fox News that presidents historically have wanted a large entertaining space at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.
President Donald Trump shows an image of his planned ballroom as he meets with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Oct. 22, 2025. (Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images)
"Nearly every single president who’s lived in this beautiful White House behind me has made modernizations and renovations of their own," Leavitt said on Fox News' "Jesse Watters Primetime" Tuesday. "In fact, presidents for decades — in modern times — have joked about how they wished they had a larger event space here at the White House, something that could hold hundreds more people than the current East Room and State Dining Room."
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"President Obama even complained that, during his tenure, he had to hold a state dinner on the South Lawn and rent a very expensive tent."
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/white-house-responds-reports-trump-named-new-ballroom-after-himself