Donald Trump Reveals Aerial View of White House Ballroom, Military Complex
Video published by President Trump shows work is well underway on his White House ballroom.
President Trump unveiled footage on his Truth Social website, demonstrating ongoing construction on the new White House ballroom, which he announced would serve a dual purpose as a military complex. The work is a significant victory for Trump, who has taken a keen personal interest in the project, despite facing legal challenges from opposing groups. The video shows the building outline appearing complete, with several floors partially constructed, and two large cranes dominating the site adjacent to the Treasury Building.
The president shared the video on X, a Trump-supporting account with 1.5 million followers. Earlier in 2025, Trump proposed building a new White House ballroom during an interview with NBC’s Meet the Press, mentioning he was considering "three or four different concepts" for the structure. The project was formally unveiled in July of the same year by then Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, who revealed the new building would have around 90,000 square feet, accommodate 650 people, and cost approximately $200 million, funded by "President Trump and other patriotic donors."
In October 2025, the old East Wing of the White House, which housed the First Lady's offices since 1902, was demolished to make way for the new ballroom. Trump initially stated the ballroom would not affect the existing structure, but this changed after consulting architects and construction companies. In April 2026, the National Capital Planning Commission approved the proposal in an 8-1 vote, with the ballroom facing significant opposition from conservation groups like the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
U.S. District Judge Richard Leon issued a preliminary injunction in March 2026 to halt construction, excluding security-related work. The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals later put the ruling on hold, allowing work to proceed until August 2026 when the D.C. Circuit upheld Leon's initial decision, concluding congressional approval was required for the project.
However, the Supreme Court's subsequent injunction in September 2026 led to the resumption of construction. Trump expressed gratitude for the Supreme Court's decision in a Truth Social post, highlighting the complex's potential national security benefits, including bomb shelters, top-secret military facilities, and storage for sniper ammunition.
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