The White House has dismissed reports suggesting President Donald Trump intends to name the new White House ballroom after himself, saying any official decision on the event space’s name will be announced by the president personally.
White House spokesman Davis Ingle told Fox News Digital on Friday, “Any announcement about the name of the ballroom will come directly from President Trump himself and not through anonymous and unnamed sources.
Rumors were widespread Friday afternoon that Trump would name the ballroom after himself, after an ABC News report claimed that administration officials were already referring to the project as “The President Donald J. Trump Ballroom.” “I’m not going to get into that right now,” Trump told ABC News on Thursday when asked about a possible name.
Trump said Monday that construction on the ballroom had begun after months of him promoting the project as part of an effort to modernize the White House. According to the administration, the project is privately funded and does not involve taxpayer money.
“For over 150 years, every president has dreamed of having a ballroom in 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 off the ground – at zero cost to the American taxpayer!” Writing on Truth Social on Monday, Trump added, “The White House Ballroom is privately funded by many generous patriots, great American corporations and yours truly. This ballroom will be happily used for generations to come!”
Democrats attacked Trump
Meanwhile, the start of construction on the ballroom has sparked a backlash from Democrats, who have accused Trump of damaging the historic White House.
Massachusetts Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren tweeted to X and responded, “Oh, you’re trying to say the cost of living is skyrocketing? Donald Trump can’t hear you over the sound of bulldozers demolishing a wing of the White House to build a new grand ballroom.”
“The White House became my home when I was twelve years old. I always understood that it wasn’t my ‘home,’ it was the People’s House,” former first daughter Chelsea Clinton wrote on X. “Erasing the East Wing isn’t just about marble or plaster — it’s about President Trump once again taking the wrecking ball to our heritage and targeting our democracy and government.”
The Trump administration rejects the criticism
The Trump administration consistently deflects criticism. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Fox News that presidents have historically sought a large gathering space at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.
Leavitt told Fox News’ “Jesse Watters Primetime” on Tuesday: “Almost every president who has lived in this beautiful White House since me has done upgrades and renovations in their own way. In fact, presidents for decades — in the modern era — have joked about how they wish they had a bigger event space here in the White House, something that could hold hundreds more people than the current East President Room a State Di had to host a state dinner on the South Lawn and rent a very expensive tent.”
