Featured Image Credit: Truth Social
Topics: Donald Trump, Politics, US News
Callum Jones
The White House has detailed its latest plans regarding Donald Trump's new ballroom which is set to cost a whopping $400 million.
It's intended to house 650 people at once and could become a near 90,000-square-foot addition to the executive mansion should it be approved by the National Capital Planning Commission in March.
The president tore down the entire East Wing in October last year to make room for the ballroom, much to the anger of political opposition.
No construction plans for the new building had been submitted at that point, making the more even more bizarre.
Advert
However, the White House has since issued its most detailed plans for the White House ballroom. including photos of what it may look like from vantage points including near the Capitol building, Jefferson Memorial and areas across the White House campus.
Taking to Truth Social after the plans were released, Trump said: "Two views of the Great Ballroom being built on the site of our wonderful White House — It is on budget, and ahead of schedule! When completed, it will be the finest Ballroom ever built anywhere in the World, one that has been sought by Presidents for over 150 years — and now they are getting THE BEST!
"Because of its unprecedented structural, safety, and security features, it will also be used for future Presidential Inaugurations."
While the demolition of the East Wing was hugely divisive, the Trump administration say they've kept some materials from the demolishment which will be used in the new ballroom building.
There's also items that were found in the building that will be present in the hugely expensive new build.
"These items include, but are not limited to, the East Wing cornerstone and plaque, movie theater furniture, the East Colonnade columns, the Porte-cochere columns, interior wood paneling, chandeliers, historic windows and doors, and other hardware and fixtures," the plan says.
"Our goal is to ensure that some of these items will be integrated into the new structure."
The ballroom building will also house office space and a two-story colonnade, and is said to be the same height as the existing executive residence in the White House grounds.
Josh Fisher, director of White House management and administration, said: "Demolition of the existing East Wing structure and reconstruction of a new East Wing provided the most effective solution to many longstanding issues affecting the White House and delivered the best long-term risk reduction."
The East Wing project was originally meant to cost $250 million, before rising to $300 million. Now, the work is expected to cost a staggering $400 at the time of completion.