Outrage erupted across the country after President Donald Trump greenlit a $200 million gold-plated ballroom for the White House — just days after signing a controversial bill that slashes health care for millions of Americans.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed Thursday that construction will begin in September on a sprawling 90,000-square-foot addition to the White House complex. The new “White House State Ballroom,” which Leavitt called “a much-needed and exquisite addition,” will feature gold-leaf ceilings, massive chandeliers, and ornate décor modeled after Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate.
Leavitt claimed the new ballroom would solve the issue of hosting large-scale events, which currently require temporary tents placed far from the main building. “The White House is one of the most beautiful and historic buildings in the world,” she said. “Yet it is currently unable to host major functions honoring world leaders and other countries without having to install a large and unsightly tent.”
The announcement came less than a week after Trump signed legislation slashing Medicaid funding and eliminating several key health programs, prompting immediate backlash.
“Scraps for the peasants, gold ballrooms for the nobles. What happened to America?” asked writer Joe Flood.
The ballroom, which will replace the historic East Wing, is expected to seat 650 guests — more than three times the capacity of the White House’s current East Room. Leavitt said the $200 million cost will be covered by Trump and “unspecified private donors,” though no details were provided about how — or when — the funding would be secured.
Critics say the priorities are clear — and offensive.
“Trump is spending $200 million of our tax dollars on a ‘golden ballroom’ in the White House, but we ‘can’t afford’ pediatric cancer research,” said podcaster Jo Carducci. “Donald Trump wants your kids to go with fewer dolls while he gets a billion-dollar airplane and a ballroom.”
Carducci also reminded followers of Trump’s controversial past remarks: “The craziest thing about Trump’s $200 million gilded WH ballroom is that he admitted just the other day that Jeffrey Epstein ‘stole’ teenage girls from him.”
Former Ohio State Senator Nina Turner slammed the contrast even more bluntly: “The White House gets a ballroom while Americans have their healthcare cut. Cannot make this up.”
The renovation, which involves tearing down and rebuilding the East Wing, will temporarily displace key White House offices, including those of First Lady Melania Trump and the White House Military Office. Trump has also ordered other changes to the White House grounds, including converting the iconic Kennedy Rose Garden into a stone patio “like the one on which he entertains guests at his Florida social club.”
Trump’s personal touches don’t stop at the garden. He has reportedly hired the same cabinetmaker who worked on Mar-a-Lago to apply gold-leaf paint in the Oval Office, turning parts of the historic workspace into a gilded reflection of his personal brand.
The announcement also raised eyebrows among Republicans, some of whom had just criticized the Federal Reserve’s renovation spending — despite that project being self-funded. Former South Carolina lawmaker Bakari Sellers asked, “Dear @SenatorTimScott, weren’t you concerned about costs overruns at the FED last week? How does a $200M ballroom jive?”
Political strategist Victor Ambrosio went further, asking whether the ballroom plan amounted to “fraud, waste, and abuse.”
Despite the backlash, construction is set to move forward. Leavitt insisted the ballroom would be built in a way that reflects the architectural heritage of the White House, while still being “substantially separated” from the original structure.
But for many Americans watching essential programs disappear while Trump builds himself a gilded monument, the symbolism is hard to ignore.
“Trump during the campaign: Groceries and rent are too expensive,” said political commentator Brian Tyler Cohen. “Today: Actually, I’m building myself a $200 million ballroom.”
