Trump Reveals New White House Ballroom Will Have a 'Massive,' Hidden Military Purpose

The president says the military is building a 'massive complex' under the new 90,000-square-foot ballroom.

Mar. 30, 2026 at 9:33pm

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A dynamic, abstract painting depicting the overlapping, fractured silhouettes of military drones and armored vehicles in shades of steel blue, gunmetal gray, and deep crimson, conceptually representing the covert, high-tech military operation hidden beneath the surface.An illustration of the covert military complex being built beneath the new White House ballroom, hinting at the hidden purpose of this controversial construction project.Washington Today

President Donald Trump told reporters that the military is constructing a 'massive complex' under the new ballroom being built at the White House. The 90,000-square-foot ballroom will allow the president to host events for up to 650 attendees, more than tripling the East Room's current capacity. Trump said the military project under the ballroom is 'ahead of schedule' and that the glass windows will be 'high-grade bulletproof'.

Why it matters

The revelation of a secret military facility being built under the new White House ballroom raises questions about the scope and purpose of the project, as well as concerns about transparency and the use of private funds for what appears to be a government military installation.

The details

Last summer, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt announced the ballroom project, describing it as a 'much-needed and exquisite addition.' Trump told reporters that the military is building a 'massive complex' under the ballroom, which he said was 'under construction' and 'ahead of schedule.' The president also noted that the glass on the ballroom's windows will be 'high-grade bulletproof.'

  • In July 2025, the White House announced the construction of the new 90,000-square-foot ballroom.
  • In February 2026, a federal judge rejected a request to halt the ballroom's construction.
  • In March 2026, the National Trust for Historic Preservation filed a new complaint, which the judge said he would aim to rule on by the end of the month.

The players

Donald Trump

The former president who revealed the military is building a 'massive complex' under the new White House ballroom.

Karoline Leavitt

The White House press secretary who announced the construction of the new 90,000-square-foot ballroom.

Richard Leon

The U.S. District Judge who rejected a request to halt the ballroom's construction and said he would rule on a new complaint by the end of March 2026.

National Trust for Historic Preservation

The organization that filed a lawsuit against the ballroom project and a new complaint in March 2026.

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What they’re saying

“The military is building a big complex under the ballroom, which has come out recently because of a stupid lawsuit that was filed.”

— Donald Trump, Former President

“It fits in with the White House. It's almost a twin to the White House. It's something. We just wanted to pay tribute to the White House.”

— Donald Trump, Former President

What’s next

The judge is expected to rule on the National Trust for Historic Preservation's new complaint against the ballroom project by the end of March 2026, which could determine the future of the military construction under the new White House addition.

The takeaway

The revelation of a secret military facility being built under the new White House ballroom raises significant concerns about transparency, the use of private funds for government military projects, and the potential impact on the historic character of the White House grounds.