Archive · 28 Nov 2025
Trump's 90,000-sq-ft Ballroom Plan Sparks Controversy
President Trump wants to build a very big ballroom at the White House, much bigger than the whole White House itself.
He picked an architect named James McCrery to design it, but they disagree on how big it should be.
The architect thinks it's too big and might look bad next to the White House.
The ballroom would cost a lot of money and is being paid for by rich people and big companies.
Some people, like Democrats and groups that care about history, are upset because they think the project is too secret and too expensive.
The ballroom isn't ready to be shown to the public yet, and there's a lot of debate about whether it's a good idea.
President Trump wants to build a 90,000-square-foot ballroom addition to the White House, much larger than the 55,000-square-foot main building.
Architect James McCrery II has expressed concerns that the addition could overshadow the White House and defy architectural norms.
The project is funded by wealthy individuals and companies with federal contracts, including Amazon and Lockheed Martin, raising concerns about transparency and influence.
The ballroom plan has not undergone formal public review and has not been submitted to the National Capital Planning Commission.
Critics, including Democrats and historical preservation groups, have raised concerns about the project's cost, secrecy, and potential impact on the White House's historic integrity.
- Who
- President Donald Trump and architect James McCrery II
- What
- A 90,000-square-foot ballroom addition to the White House
- When
- Details not specified, but construction is ongoing
- Where
- White House, Washington D.C.
- Why
- Trump wants a larger space for special events, but the project faces criticism for its size and lack of transparency
- Project Size
- 90,000 square feet
- Architect
- James McCrery II
- Capacity
- 650-1,000 people
- Funding Sources
- Wealthy individuals and companies with federal contracts
- White House Size
- 55,000 square feet
- Project Status
- Not yet submitted for public review