Donald Trump, who continues remodeling the White House to his liking, will add a large ballroom for official receptions, his spokesperson announced on Thursday. She said the president himself and private donors — whose identities have not been disclosed — would fund the $200 million project. “For 150 years, presidents, administrations, and White House staff have been waiting for a grand reception hall at the White House,” said Leavitt. Construction to Begin in September 

The new building is expected to hold up to 650 people, with construction starting in September and projected to finish “well before” the end of Donald Trump's second term on January 20, 2029, according to the spokesperson. The goal is to host large state dinners — which are currently held in a large temporary pavilion on the White House lawn — in a more permanent and elegant setting.

The ballroom, according to models released by the White House, will be a white building flanked by columns and a pediment reminiscent of the main building’s entrance. A Long-Standing Idea It will be built on the site of the current East Wing, which traditionally houses the First Lady’s offices. Donald Trump has long expressed his desire to build a ballroom, saying he wants to take inspiration from his private properties — especially his lavish Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida.

That estate more or less serves as a blueprint for shaping the White House in his image. Inspired by Mar-a-Lago’s courtyards, the Republican billionaire, for instance, paved over the lawn of the iconic White House Rose Garden. Never one to shy away from ostentation, Trump also decorated the Oval Office with golden accents and installed two enormous American flags in the White House gardens.