Trump’s White House Ballroom Project Could Cost Up to $600 Million, Report Says

A new ballroom construction project at the White House initiated under U.S. President Donald Trump could cost as much as $600 million, according to a report published Tuesday by The Washington Post.

The report says the cost estimate is more than 50% higher than earlier figures provided by Trump, who had previously placed the project’s cost at around $400 million. He has repeatedly stated that the project would be funded by himself and private donors.

According to The Washington Post, the construction contractor Clark Construction prepared a detailed cost assessment for the U.S. administration, projecting the total cost at approximately $600 million.

The project reportedly began last year after the historic East Wing of the White House was demolished without prior consultation with Congress.

However, the White House rejected claims that taxpayers would bear the majority of the cost. In a statement to AFP, spokesperson Davis Ingle said Trump and private donors are funding the project.

“President Trump and generous American donors are building this ballroom at a cost of nearly $400 million, which will serve as a secure and appropriate venue for future presidents,” he said.

The White House also argued that recent security concerns, including an attempted armed intrusion during a high-profile weekend event, highlight the need to modernize the East Wing for large-scale gatherings.

Despite these claims, The Washington Post reported that an internal summary prepared earlier this month estimated the total project cost at $600 million, with only $293 million expected to come from private sources.

Trump initially announced the project with an estimated cost of $200 million, but later revised figures have steadily increased.

Democrats have criticized the project as extravagant and out of touch with rising living costs for ordinary Americans. Republicans, meanwhile, have expressed concern that inflation and rising energy prices could negatively impact their prospects in upcoming elections.

During a site visit last month, Trump defended the project, saying, “It is a gift to the United States. It is all being paid for by me and donors.”