Trump to start building $311 million White House ballroom in September
Trump, a former real estate developer with a penchant for decorating, has long complained the White House lacks a large-scale ballroom for entertaining.
The White House on Thursday announced plans to break ground in September on the project, which could prove to be the most extensive one since Harry Truman completed an entire renovation in 1952. The White House was built in 1800 and partially rebuilt after being burned by the British during the War of 1812.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters that work on the 8360-square metre facility would be completed 'long before' Trump's four-year term ended in January 2029.
The $US200 million cost of the ballroom, which will be able to seat 650 people, would be donated by Trump and other donors, she said.
Presidents have used the intimate State Dining Room for events, as well as the larger East Room for bigger VIP lists, and sometimes will have a tent temporarily constructed on the South Lawn to host big dinners.
'When it rains, it's a disaster,' Trump said of the tents when asked about the new ballroom on Thursday.
Trump's home at his Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida, has a grand ballroom and a smaller one, both with glittering chandeliers and white walls decorated with gold flourishes.
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