As construction begins on President Donald Trump’s new $250 million White House ballroom, questions are mounting over who is funding the lavish project.
Groundbreaking took place on Monday, with excavators tearing into parts of the East Wing to make way for the new 90,000 sq ft (8,360 sq m) ballroom. The ornate hall will reportedly hold up to 999 guests — a significant expansion from the original 650-seat plan.
President Trump has said he will personally pay for a substantial portion of the costs, but he also hinted that anonymous donors and corporations will contribute millions more.
Ethics Concerns Over Donor Secrecy
The lack of transparency has prompted concern from ethics experts, who warn the arrangement could resemble a “pay-to-play” system.
“It’s using access to the White House to raise money. I view this as an ethics nightmare,” said Richard Painter, former chief ethics lawyer under President George W. Bush. “These corporations all want something from the government.”
A White House dinner for potential donors was held on 15 October, attended by senior executives from Microsoft, OpenAI, Blackstone, Coinbase, Palantir, Lockheed Martin, Amazon, and Google. Also present were NFL owner Woody Johnson and Manchester United co-owners Shari and Edward Glazer.
Documents obtained by CBS News suggest donors may receive recognition on the structure itself, possibly through names engraved within the ballroom.
YouTube Confirmed as Major Contributor
So far, only one contributor has been confirmed. YouTube will pay $22 million as part of a legal settlement with Trump over the suspension of his account following the 6 January 2021 Capitol riot.
The rest of the donations will reportedly be managed by the Trust for the National Mall, a non-profit that partners with the National Park Service on projects around the White House.
A “Necessary Renovation,” White House Says
Administration officials insist there is nothing improper about the funding. They argue the ballroom will serve future administrations and note that no taxpayer money is being used.
Former White House executive chef Martin Mongiello said the new structure will eventually save costs by eliminating the need for costly event tents.
“The tents outside sometimes cost $1 million per event,” he said. “The ballroom will eventually pay for itself.”
Critics Warn of “Pay-to-Play” Risk
However, critics say the project could become a symbol of political favoritism. Painter cautioned that the new ballroom creates an “enormous temptation” to host political fundraisers.
“You can’t prove a quid pro quo,” he said, “but the Trump administration is pushing the envelope.”
Trump, for his part, appeared unconcerned. Speaking at the donor dinner, he reportedly told attendees:
“Some people asked if $25 million was enough. I said, ‘I’ll take it.’”
The White House says it will release a full donor list in due course, but for now, the mystery remains — who exactly is paying for Trump’s ballroom?
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