According to senior administration officials, President Donald Trump is set to name his new $300 million White House ballroom after himself. Sources indicate that officials are already informally referring to it as The President Donald J. Trump Ballroom, a name that is likely to become official. While Trump has not publicly disclosed his plans for the ballroom's name, his history of branding construction projects after himself suggests this trend will continue with this latest endeavor.
Recent images reveal that the entire East Wing of the White House has been demolished to accommodate Trump's ambitious 90,000-square-foot ballroom. A White House official confirmed to ABC News that the ballroom project has successfully raised $350 million, citing overwhelming support for the initiative. As of now, the construction costs are projected to be around $300 million. However, the official did not clarify how the additional $50 million raised will be utilized.
During a recent exchange with ABC News Chief White House Correspondent Mary Bruce, Trump was asked if he had a name in mind for the ballroom. He smiled and responded, "I won't get into that now." When questioned about his personal financial contributions to the ballroom project, Trump stated, "Oh, millions of dollars. Yeah. Well, I also give, you know, I give a lot of money to the White House." He emphasized his commitment to the White House, mentioning that he often directs his salary to support various initiatives, as he believes the residence has been somewhat "abandoned."
As the project progresses, the Trump ballroom is becoming a focal point of discussion within the administration. With substantial financial backing and Trump's penchant for self-branding, it remains to be seen how this new space will come to represent his legacy at the White House. ABC News' Hannah Demissie also contributed to this report, providing further insights into this developing story.
