Trump Unveils $400m White House Ballroom Project

President Donald Trump is pursuing an ambitious rebuilding of Washington, from a proposed $400 million White House ballroom to a 76-foot arch and a renovated Kennedy Center.

Trump’s sweeping redevelopment efforts could become the most dramatic transformation of the US capital since Theodore Roosevelt pushed for the reconstruction of the National Mall in the early 20th century. In the 1950s, Harry Truman oversaw a major renovation and rebuilding of the White House.

The US president said the planned 90,000 square foot ballroom would be “the largest of its kind ever built,” matching the White House in both height and scale.

Trump initially said he and a group of wealthy donors would fund the estimated $400 million project. He is now in a dispute with Congress after requesting an additional $1 billion linked to security features.

Speaking during an impromptu tour on Tuesday in sweltering heat, Trump stood before the noisy construction site and said the building would extend six stories underground. He added that it would feature 10-inch-thick windows and a drone base on the roof “to protect all of Washington.”

The project, which Trump said could host up to 1,000 guests, has triggered a negative public reaction. Preservationists and political opponents argue the president exceeded his authority by demolishing the historic East Wing, home to the first lady’s offices and the White House movie theater, to make way for the new structure.

(reuters, im)