President Donald Trump unveiled the shocking new price tag of his glitzy ballroom makeover for the White House, new plans of which show how it has dramatically scaled up from its initial proposal.
The Daily Beast reported Wednesday that the two-story edifice will include sweeping staircases, residential quarters for guests, and a secure bridge connecting the new space to the presidential residence. On Tuesday, Trump "let it slip" that the project now carries a staggering price tag of $400 million, double the initial estimate.
Court filings released this week provided fresh details about the scope and scale of the now-significantly larger undertaking.
The National Park Service, which maintains the White House grounds, noted the ballroom would "dominate the eastern portion of the site, creating a visual imbalance with the more modestly scaled West Wing and Executive Mansion."
To boot, streets surrounding the complex would be closed through 2028, and the project has necessitated the removal of historic landscaping, including gardens associated with former first lady Jackie Kennedy and a magnolia planted by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1942.
Beyond the primary 90,000-square-foot ballroom, the development encompasses a renovated colonnade with a second-floor component, an expanded public entrance featuring grand stairs, and interior spaces for administrative functions.
“The new building will be approximately 90,000 square feet and will be connected to the Executive Mansion through the East Colonnade. The East Colonnade will be renovated to include a secure second story that will provide direct access from the East Room to the State Ballroom, while maintaining existing ground-floor access to and from the main Executive Mansion,” the documents say.
The National Trust for Historic Preservation has sued the president, asserting that “No president is legally allowed to tear down portions of the White House without any review whatsoever—not President Trump, not President Biden, not anyone else."
However, a federal judge this week indicated he would likely allow the project to continue, but required the administration to present completed designs to oversight bodies within two weeks.