Who is paying for Trump's White House ballroom?

October 21, 2025

Construction has begun on President Trump's $250 million White House ballroom, a 90,000 square foot project that is raising ethical concerns due to its funding model. The president claims he will personally cover significant portions of the cost while wealthy donors and corporations will contribute the rest, with some potentially donating over $20 million. While YouTube has committed $22 million as part of a legal settlement, most contributors remain anonymous despite a dinner for potential donors that included executives from major companies like Microsoft, Amazon, and Google.

Who is affected

Future White House administrations who will use the facility
Potential corporate and wealthy individual donors who may gain access or recognition
US taxpayers (who are not funding the project, according to the White House)
Companies that currently provide temporary tent structures for White House events

What action is being taken

Construction has begun with excavators tearing out portions of the East Wing
The White House is soliciting large donations from wealthy individuals and corporations
The Trust for the National Mall is handling the donation process
The administration is planning to eventually publish a list of donors
YouTube is contributing $22 million as part of a legal settlement with Trump

Why it matters

The funding model raises ethical concerns about potential "pay-to-play" arrangements where donors might expect government favors
The large scale of the ballroom (now planned to seat 999 people) creates what critics call an "enormous temptation" for future political fundraising
According to former White House chef Martin Mongiello, the ballroom could eventually pay for itself by eliminating costly temporary tent structures
The project represents a significant expansion of White House entertaining capacity that will affect future administrations

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC