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Horrific Scale of Trump’s Ballroom Exposed in New Video

New footage reveals the staggering scale of the president’s controversial pet project as its price tag soars past $600 million.

New footage reveals the staggering scale of Donald Trump’s $600 million White House ballroom project, showing the sprawling construction site where the historic East Wing once stood.

Trump, 80, toured the site Friday, surveying a vast expanse of concrete as his controversial pet project takes shape despite months of legal battles and fierce criticism.

U..S. President Donald Trump speaks at the site of ongoing construction of the planned White House ballroom in Washington, D.C., U.S., May 19, 2026. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

Trump shows off his proposed ballroom plans.

Kevin Lamarque/REUTERS

White House communications adviser Margo Martin, who accompanied the president on his inspection, posted footage of the visit to X on Friday afternoon.

“President @realDonaldTrump checks on the progress of the White House Ballroom construction,” she wrote in the post’s caption.

Trump discusses progress on his long-touted White House ballroom.

Trump discusses progress on his long-touted White House ballroom.

Margo Martin/X

The ballroom—which Trump has touted as a top-level security site, military bunker, hospital, and entertainment venue—will dwarf the White House when finished. Architects and conservationists have already panned the project.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The massive scale of Trump's ballroom, which will dwarf the White House itself, can be seen in new footage.

The massive scale of Trump's ballroom, which will dwarf the White House itself, can be seen in new footage.

Margo Martin/X

The saga of the ballroom began when Trump announced his intention to build it for $100 million in February 2025, saying he would fund the project himself.

The cost quickly ballooned to $250 million, and has since risen further.

Construction continues on the White House ballroom, where the East Wing once stood, in Washington, D.C., U.S., August 26, 2026.

Construction continues on the White House ballroom, where the East Wing once stood.

Daniel Heuer/Daniel Heuer, Reuters

In October 2025, construction crews began tearing down the East Wing, with the demolition proceeding swiftly and without congressional approval.

The 90,000-square-foot ballroom plan was quickly challenged in court, with the National Trust for Historic Preservation securing a pause in construction, much to Trump’s frustration.

Underground construction was allowed to continue while the case worked its way through the court system.

Then, in August 2026, a federal judge declared that the president did not have the authority to unilaterally demolish parts of the White House without congressional approval and funding, throwing the project into chaos.

Trump Truth ballroom

One of many posts Trump has made on Truth Social railing against legal intervention into the ballroom development.

Truth Social/@realDonaldTrump

Court filings from the administration revealed that the ballroom-cum-military-bunker was built with “indestructible” concrete, which they argued made demolition impossible.

“Quite frankly, if the building were tragically ordered to be taken down, or even altered, by the court, there would be no way to do so,” Solicitor General John Sauer said.

The Supreme Court ultimately allowed the president’s pet project to continue while the justices considered the case.

The ballroom’s price tag has now surpassed $600 million, and the president is determined to have it built as he works to reshape Washington, D.C., in his image.

He has launched a series of projects during his second term to cement his legacy, regardless of the obstacles.

Beyond the ballroom, those projects include the disastrous Reflecting Pool makeover, the relentless gilding of the Oval Office, and Trump’s enormous proposed triumphal arch.

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