On Monday, December 29th, President Trump announced his plan to demolish the original East Wing of the White House and construct a new “State Ballroom” equipped with a “drone-free roof” for hosting events like the presidential inauguration. The expansion project of the White House State Ballroom started in September 2025 in Washington, D.C. It was officially announced on July 31, 2025, with a total area of approximately 90,000 square feet (around 8400 square meters) to accommodate approximately 900 people, compared to the original East Wing’s capacity of 200 people. The East Wing was demolished in October 2025 to make space for the new State Ballroom.
President Trump made these statements during a joint press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at Mar-a-Lago in Florida. He criticized Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell and then shifted to discuss the construction of the White House State Ballroom, emphasizing that it is both a banquet hall and a dance hall capable of hosting large conferences and various inaugural ceremonies.
Trump threatened to dismiss Powell and accused the Federal Reserve of overspending on renovations at their headquarters, contrasting it with the comparatively lower budget of the White House State Ballroom project. He mentioned that the estimated cost of the State Ballroom would be around $400 million, funded by his and other private donations without burdening taxpayers.
The President described the State Ballroom as equipped with bulletproof glass and a drone-free roof to ensure security, highlighting it as a grand, beautiful, and safe building. He stated that the White House had desired a State Ballroom for 150 years, and he and donors financially contributed to the approximately $400 million building, with a commitment to keep costs low.
Trump asserted that the project would be completed within budget and ahead of schedule, aiming for a 2028 completion date. The initial estimated cost of the State Ballroom project was $200 million, which later increased to $250 million and then $300 million. Last week, Trump revealed that the cost had escalated to $400 million, with the seating capacity increased from 650 to 900 people.
The President’s announcement raised questions about potential adjustments in seating capacity due to the larger scale of the project. The reference to hosting an inauguration ceremony sparked discussions about whether it was for the next president in 2029 or for indoor inauguration preparations, while the term “drone-free roof” raised curiosity as it had not been commonly used previously.
Previously, Trump had changed the lead architect and appointed Shalom Baranes to oversee the project. They are expected to submit construction designs in January, typically the first step in the National Capital Planning Commission’s project review process.
The White House noted that certain details of the construction plan are still being finalized, prompting anticipation from the public. Despite opposition from figures like the Clintons and Obamas, who criticized significant alterations to the “people’s house,” the demolition of the original East Wing and the construction of the new State Ballroom project continues to progress.