White House breaks ground for construction of new grand ballroom

President Donald Trump on Monday announced that ground has been broken at the White House, marking the beginning of construction on the new White House ballroom. 

The ballroom will replace the East Wing of the White House property, which was originally built in 1902. The project will mark the most substantial overhaul of the presidential estate in recent years.

Trump announced the new project in May, which will be privately funded by large companies and donors. 

"I am pleased to announce that ground has been broken on the White House grounds to build the new, big, beautiful White House Ballroom," Trump posted to Truth Social Monday. "Completely separate from the White House itself, the East Wing is being fully modernized as part of this process, and will be more beautiful than ever when it is complete! 

"For more than 150 years, every President has dreamt about having a Ballroom at the White House to accommodate people for grand parties, State Visits, etc. I am honored to be the first President to finally get this much-needed project underway — with zero cost to the American Taxpayer!"

Trump recently held a formal dinner for nearly 130 wealthy donors, allies and representatives of major companies, to reward them for their donations to the ballroom. 

On top of the ballroom, Trump has also revealed plans for an arch near the Lincoln Memorial to mark the entrance to Washington, D.C., that would run along the Arlington Memorial Bridge, between the Lincoln Memorial and the iconic Virginia cemetery.

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.