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The White House is proceeding with a large-scale construction project to build a 90,000-square-foot ballroom on the grounds of the White House—specifically replacing the East Wing. The Ballroom is estimated to hold up to 1,000 guests for large gatherings, and planned to be completed before Trump’s term ends in 2029.
Demolition of the East Wing has started by construction workers, to make way for the new ballroom. However, it's worth noting that the initial estimated cost that was allocated to finish the construction has grown; what started with an estimation of $200 million has been revised to about $250 to $300 million.
But the administration assures that no taxpayer funds will be used; instead, the funding is coming from private donations plus Trump himself.
Techcrunch calls this project "Trump's lavish addition to the White House." Well, we can say this is because the planned Ballroom will be costing around $250 to $300 million, funds that's far larger and more ornate than typical White House renovations.
The design reportedly includes crystal chandeliers, marble flooring, gold accents, and private dining suites—features that evoke luxury and grandeur rather than practicality. Calling it “lavish” frames it as extravagant or showy, which aligns with Trump’s well-known taste for opulent spaces (like Mar-a-Lago or Trump Tower).
But the interesting part of it is that Trump has declared that he's not using taxpayers' funds to fund this project. Rather, he's using funds donated by big tech companies and billionaires and himself.
List of Donators for the Ballroom
The White House released a list of who is paying for the Trump’s $250 million ballroom—and what they might get in return. The list was released to TIME on Thursday, and the list includes corporate companies and individual who are billionaires donors. Here's the list:
- Meta Platforms — The company is the parent of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, which are led by CEO Mark Zuckerberg.
- Lockheed Martin — Lockheed Martin is a leading global security, defense and aerospace contractor that specializes in aerospace and military technology.
- Kelly Loeffler and Jeff Sprecher — Business couple known for their finance background; Sprecher is CEO of Intercontinental Exchange, which owns the New York Stock Exchange.
- Apple Inc. — The tech giant behind the iPhone, Mac, and Apple Watch, co-founded by Steve Jobs and now headed by Tim Cook.
- Benjamin Leon Jr. — Florida-based businessman and philanthropist known for his work in healthcare ventures.
- Union Pacific Railroad — A major freight-hauling railroad company operating across the western United States.
- Ripple Labs — Blockchain company best known for the XRP cryptocurrency and payment technology solutions.
- NextEra Energy, Inc. — NextEra Energy is a leading force in energy solutions and one of the largest renewable energy companies in the U.S., setting the standard for operational excellence across the industry. The company primarily focuses on harnessing wind and solar power.
- Stephen A. Schwarzman — Billionaire co-founder and CEO of the Blackstone Group, a global private equity firm.
- Google (Alphabet Inc.) — Global technology leader in search, AI, and advertising, co-founded by Larry Page and Sergey Brin.
- Hard Rock International — Entertainment and hospitality brand known for its themed hotels, casinos, and cafes.
- Micron Technology — American semiconductor company specializing in memory and storage solutions.
- Palantir Technologies Inc. — Data analytics firm co-founded by Peter Thiel, often linked to government and defense projects.
- Caterpillar, Inc. — World’s leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, recognized by its iconic yellow machines.
- Betty Wold Johnson Foundation — Philanthropic organization supporting health, education, and the arts, linked to the Johnson & Johnson family.
- Edward and Shari Glazer — Business magnates with holdings in real estate and sports, including ownership in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
- HP Inc. — Major computer and printer manufacturer, originally part of Hewlett-Packard before its 2015 split.
- Comcast Corporation — U.S. telecom and media conglomerate, owner of NBCUniversal and Sky Group.
- T-Mobile — Leading wireless network operator in the U.S., known for its consumer-friendly mobile services.
- The Laura & Isaac Perlmutter Foundation — Charity founded by the billionaire couple behind Marvel Entertainment and Estée Lauder philanthropy efforts.
- J. Pepe and Emilia Fanjul — Prominent Florida sugar industry family known for political influence and charitable work.
- Altria Group, Inc. — Major tobacco company and parent of Philip Morris USA, maker of Marlboro cigarettes.
- Paolo Tiramani — Entrepreneur and investor involved in technology and modular housing innovations.
- Amazon — E-commerce and cloud computing powerhouse founded by Jeff Bezos, also active in AI and logistics sectors.
- Adelson Family Foundation — Philanthropic group established by casino magnate Sheldon Adelson and his wife, Miriam.
- Coinbase — U.S.-based cryptocurrency exchange that allows users to trade Bitcoin and other digital assets.
- Konstantin Sokolov — Investor with interests in global energy and technology sectors.
- Booz Allen Hamilton — Consulting and analytics firm known for defense and cybersecurity work with U.S. agencies.
- Reynolds American — Tobacco company known for brands such as Camel and Newport, a subsidiary of British American Tobacco.
- Cameron Winklevoss — Entrepreneur and co-founder of the Gemini crypto exchange, also known for his early legal dispute with Facebook.
- Harold Hamm — Oil industry billionaire and founder of Continental Resources, a major U.S. energy producer.
- Tyler Winklevoss — Twin brother of Cameron Winklevoss, co-founder of Gemini and investor in digital assets.
- The Lutnick Family — Family of Howard Lutnick, CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald, known for financial and charitable ventures.
- Charles and Marissa Cascarilla — Co-founders of Paxos, a blockchain infrastructure company supporting digital finance innovation.
- Tether America — Cryptocurrency company behind USDT, one of the most widely used stablecoins in digital markets.
- Stefan E. Brodie — Business executive and philanthropist involved in private investments and civic causes.
- Microsoft — Global software leader behind Windows, Office, and Azure, founded by Bill Gates and Paul Allen.
Individual billionaires and politically-connected donors also appear in the donor list. However: the exact contribution amounts from most donors have not been made public.
Ethics Concerns Cloud Donor-Funded White House Ballroom Project
All we’ve discussed so far is good, but it also raises questions of scrutiny over ethics and oversight regarding donor influence in Trump’s White House ballroom plans. Critics have pointed out that although donor names are being disclosed, the full breakdown of contributions remains opaque.
Because many contributing companies are regulated or have interests in federal policy (tech, crypto, defense), there are questions about whether donations might buy influence. Let's related this to Silicon Valley’s relationship with Trump from beginning—when he was he became America president for the first time in 2016.
When he first took office in 2016, many tech companies kept their distance, but during his second term, they began showing support through large donations. For example, Meta and Amazon, once cautious, each contributed around a million dollars to Trump’s second inauguration.
Not criticizing but this change highlights how the tech industry and Silicon Valley—at large—have deepen their relationship with the president Trump, suggesting their interests have become more closely aligned.
It's also worth noting that the donor fundings further set off ethics alarms after the White House invited several major corporate and wealthy backers to an East Room dinner last week to raise money for the project.
The WSJ—which received a copy of the invitation—says the invitation was explicitly tied to establishing the new space, and reports that Trump has been meeting both at the White House and at his Virginia club to solicit donations.
Many attendees do substantial business with the federal government, which legal scholar Richard Briffault says is what makes this different from routine private philanthropy: while governments sometimes seek private funds, Trump’s personal role in pitching a costly, highly visible “vanity” project and directly asking a small group of companies for large gifts creates uncomfortable ethical optics and the potential for influence.
Briffault argues the solicitation is unlikely to be a literal quid-pro-quo but can function as softer pressure—donors may expect favorable treatment or fear losing it if they decline—calling the approach quasi-coercive. Ethics watchdogs echo the concern: CREW’s Noah Bookbinder notes that absent a clear quid-pro-quo it may not be illegal, yet the practice is unusual and troubling given Trump’s history of rewarding supporters.
Critics also point to parallels with other controversial favors, like the acceptance of a Qatari luxury jet, emphasizing that even if Trump doesn’t pocket the funds, the ballroom will personally benefit him throughout his presidency.
Separately, the project has drawn procedural criticism because demolition and construction are moving forward without a formal sign-off from the National Capital Planning Commission; Will Scharf, Trump’s appointee to the commission, has responded by saying the body only needs to approve rebuilding, not demolition.
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| Demolition of the White House’s East Wing |
What do you think about this Trump’s latest project? Is this the next page for him, or has he just left what’s next to focus on what can wait? Let us know your opinions in the comments section.
