Trump plans US$200m White House ballroom inspired by Turnberry and Mar-a-Lago
US president aims to leave his mark on the executive mansion with a structure inspired by his own lavish properties
US President Donald Trump, who is remodeling the White House to his tastes, will build a massive ballroom for hosting official receptions, one of the largest projects at the US executive mansion in over a century.
Trump himself and unspecified donors will foot the bill for the US$200 million project, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told a press briefing on Thursday.
“For 150 years, presidents, administrations and White House staff have longed for a large event space on the White House complex,” the spokeswoman said.
“There’s never been a president that was good at ballrooms,” the 79-year-old president and former real estate developer told reporters of the latest bid to leave his mark on the White House.
“I’m good at building things, and we’ll get it built quickly and on time. It’ll be beautiful,” said Trump, assuring that the character of the original building would be preserved.