Trump Unveils New Rendering of Massive White House Ballroom

President says the ballroom will not be taller than the existing White House, despite criticism over the project's size.

Feb. 3, 2026 at 6:31pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

President Trump has released a new rendering of his plans for a large new ballroom on White House grounds, emphasizing that it will be stylistically similar to the historic design of the existing buildings nearby. Trump has faced criticism over the size of the renovation project, including the demolition of the East Wing, but he insists the new ballroom will not be taller than the Executive Mansion.

Why it matters

The White House ballroom project has drawn scrutiny from historical preservationists and review panels, who are concerned the nearly 90,000-square-foot ballroom could dwarf the existing White House. Trump is facing legal pressure to submit the project for a formal review process.

The details

The new rendering largely mirrors drawings previously displayed by the project's architect, Shalom Baranes. Trump says the North Wall is a replica of the North Facade of the White House, and the East Portico replicates that of the nearby Treasury building. The president claims the ballroom will be 'The Greatest of its kind ever built!!' and 'totally in keeping with our historic White House'.

  • On Tuesday, Trump released the new rendering of the ballroom project.

The players

Donald Trump

The former president who is overseeing the White House ballroom renovation project.

Shalom Baranes

The architect leading the design of the new White House ballroom.

National Capital Planning Commission

A review panel that has expressed concern about the size of the proposed ballroom.

Commission of Fine Arts

Another review panel that has raised issues with the scale of the ballroom project.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“If you notice, the North Wall is a replica of the North Facade of the White House.”

— Donald Trump, President

“Being an identical height and scale, it is totally in keeping with our historic White House.”

— Donald Trump, President

What’s next

The Trump administration has been under legal pressure to submit the new ballroom project to a formal review process. A judge has recently expressed deep skepticism about the government's case to proceed with initial construction without a full review.

The takeaway

The White House ballroom project has become a contentious issue, with concerns raised about the scale of the proposed addition and its potential impact on the historic character of the existing buildings. The legal battle over the project's review process will likely continue to unfold.