(Washington) Part of the White House was demolished Monday to build Donald Trump’s future ballroom, marking the start of one of the biggest projects on the famous building in more than a century, AFP journalists noted.
“I am pleased to announce that work has begun at the White House to build the new, large and beautiful ballroom,” Trump said on his Truth Social platform.
The ballroom, whose construction costs are estimated at $250 million, must have a surface area of more than 8,000 square meters and accommodate up to 1,000 people. It will be used for large dinners given in honor of foreign heads of state and other large events, the president said.
The imposing white building with very high windows, according to the models, will be built on the site of the current eastern wing, or “East Wing”, where the offices of the first lady are traditionally located.
The wing of the White House is “being completely modernized” and “will be more beautiful than ever once the work is completed,” Donald Trump said Monday.
PHOTO JESSICA KOSCIELNIAK, REUTERS
The ballroom, whose construction costs are estimated at $250 million, must have a surface area of more than 8,000 square meters.
According to him, this new ballroom will be entirely financed by private funds coming in particular from “generous patriots and superb companies”.
The Republican hosted a big dinner last week to thank billionaires and big companies for making donations. Among the guests were representatives of “tech” companies such as Amazon, Apple, Meta, Google, Microsoft and Palantir, as well as the defense giant Lockheed Martin.
Since his return to power, his sumptuous Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida has served as a model for shaping the White House in his image.
The Oval Office, for example, was laden with gold ornaments and two huge American flags were planted on the lawns.
The White House has been the residence as well as workplace of American presidents since 1800. The first to live there was John Adams, the second president of the United States.
