US President Donald Trump will move ahead with his most significant addition to the White House to construct a new $ 200 million ballroom right next to the mansion’s East Wing after paving over the Rose Garden and adding gold-filigree decorations to the Oval Office.
Trump, a former developer of real estate, has made repeated promises to construct a “beautiful” ballroom for the White House. He offered $100 million for the project during Barack Obama’s presidency in 2016, but the then-president turned down his offer.
However, press secretary Karoline Leavitt claimed that the White House will be “much needed and exquisite addition” and will have a seating capacity of 650 at a press briefing on Thursday.
The East Room, which can accommodate about 200 people, is where the White House’s formal functions are currently held. Construction is anticipated to be finished “long before” Trump’s term in office’s January 2029, according to Leavitt.
She added that other donors, such as the president, would support the renovations, but she declined to provide specifics. The ballroom will be similar in design to the rest of the mansion, according to renderings from the White House.
According to Leavitt, the “East Wing currently exists” will be constructed as the ballroom. When questioned about whether the East Wing’s demolition would require tearing down that section of the White House, she responded that it would.
Leslie Greene Bowman, a member of the Committee for the Preservation of the White House, told BBC News that “the White House has a history of expansion to accommodate the changing needs of the nation’s chief executive.”
What were those, then?
The White House was constructed when and how?
The White House was built in 1792 on the inspiration of Irish-born architect James Hoban. It was first occupied by President John Adams in 1800 despite his initial objections to moving in when it was seized by enslaved laborers and European craftsmen.
On the White House, physically demanding tasks were performed by enslaved laborers, such as removing stones, moving stones, and making bricks. They were typically hired out by their slavers, who received compensation for their labor.
In August 1814, British forces invaded and stoked the White House during the War of 1812 (also known as the Second War of Independence).
Almost immediately following, Hoban led the way under President James Madison.
In 1817, President James Monroe emigrated to the restored structure, and in 1824, he added the South Portico. During Andrew Jackson’s presidency, the North Portico was established in 1829, giving rise to the White House’s iconic exterior, as it is known today.
Amendments were gradually made throughout the 19th century. Gradually, furnishings, lighting, and running water were added. Electricity was installed in the White House in 1891 under President Benjamin Harrison.
What modifications did the White House undergo during the 20th century?
In 1902, President Theodore Roosevelt made one of the most significant structural adjustments. The presidential offices were moved from the second floor of the residence to a new West Wing after the old Victorian-style interiors were removed.
The State Dining Room, which had only 40 seats, was also enlarged by Roosevelt by removing a staircase and increasing its size to 100.
The White House was modernized by President Roosevelt to meet the demands of the expanding executive branch.
The first Oval Office, a symbol of presidential power, was established in 1909 by William Howard Taft, who expanded Roosevelt’s West Wing.
Under Harry Truman’s presidency (1945-1953), the White House underwent the biggest changes. Workers reconstructed the building’s interior using steel beams and concrete floors while Trump only removed the exterior walls.
On the South Portico, Truman also added a contentious second-floor balcony, sometimes referred to as the “Truman Balcony.” The White House underwent more subtle but still significant changes as presidents awaited.
A restoration project spearheaded by John F. Kennedy and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy, which incorporated antiques into the restoration work.
The Situation Room was upgraded and added by Richard Nixon in 1969 as a bowling alley.
The White House received significant technological advancements, including enhanced internet access and security, under Bill Clinton. The Abraham Lincoln Bedroom and several other historic areas were renovated by George W. Bush, including the press briefing room.
In recent years, Barack Obama has expanded Wi-Fi to the West Wing and White House. A portion of the White House’s existing tennis courts was also made for basketball use by Obama, a lifelong basketball fan.
Although there is no official figure, construction and renovation costs totaled roughly $250 million (at the current exchange rate). As a result, maintaining the US president’s residence and office costs a lot.
What other building projects are Washington, DC currently working on?
The ballroom project has a significant timing. Trump seized on a massive renovation project the US Federal Reserve (Fed) was working on to criticize Jay Powell, the chair of the central bank, just a week prior.
Trump made a quick estimate of the project’s high cost, which was roughly $ 2.5 billion to renovate two 1930s structures. Trump charged Powell with financial mismanagement during a eponymous presidential visit to the bank’s headquarters on July 24.
Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought, a Trump appointee, was also accused by Powell of handling the “ostentatious” refurbishment of the Fed’s Washington, DC, last month.
Trump has repeatedly urged the Fed to lower interest rates by 3%, and he has frequently posed the possibility of firing Powell, despite Trump’s claim that he has no intention of doing so. Trump referred to the Fed chief as a “numbskull” on July 22.
In light of the White House’s pressure on the US economy, the Federal Reserve maintained interest rates of 4.25 to 4.50 percent on July 30. This is on par with economists’ expectations.
