Featured Image Credit: Kevin Dietsch/Getty Image
Topics: Donald Trump, Politics, US News, Money
Rhiannon Ingle
Topics: Donald Trump, Politics, US News, Money
A full list of donors has been released as President Donald Trump shared new renderings of his multi-million-dollar renovation of the White House ballroom.
The Trump administration first announced the renovations last summer (31 July), sharing that a staggering $200 million (£150m) would be plied into the construction of a brand new ballroom.
One section of the official White House announcement read: "The White House is one of the most beautiful and historic buildings in the world, yet the White House is currently unable to host major functions honouring world leaders and other countries without having to install a large and unsightly tent approximately 100 yards away from the main building entrance.
"The White House State Ballroom will be a much-needed and exquisite addition of approximately 90,000 total square feet of ornately designed and carefully crafted space, with a seated capacity of 650 people — a significant increase from the 200-person seated capacity in the East Room of the White House."
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Trump initially claimed the project would leave the existing White House structure untouched, but by October, the entire East Wing had been demolished to clear space for the ballroom, which he said would cost $400 million.
Last month, Trump took to Truth Social, where he discussed the threat posed to the construction of his White House ballroom by a lawsuit seeking to stop it in its tracks.
In the lengthy post, he declared: "I’m building, on top of everything else that I am doing, one of the greatest and most beautiful Ballrooms anywhere in the World, with more than 300 Million Dollars of Great American Patriots’ money, and working closely with, right from the beginning, the United States Military and Secret Service."
Trump added: "Making such a large gift to the U.S.A. was thought to be, by almost everyone, 'A WONDERFUL THING TO DO' — But no, as usual, I got sued, this time by the Radical Left National (No!)Trust for Historic Preservation, a group that couldn’t care less about our Country!"
The latest update has seen Trump post two new image renderings of the White House.
Writing on Truth Social yesterday (18 February), he said: "Will be the Greatest Ballroom ever built, now rising at the site of the White House — Fully paid for by American Patriot Donors. ZERO cost to our United States Taxpayers!"
In a post last week, he previously wrote, per Architects' Journal: "Two views of the Great Ballroom being built on the site of our wonderful White House – it is on budget, and ahead of schedule!"
"When completed, it will be the finest ballroom ever built anywhere in the world, one that has been sought by presidents for over 150 years – and now they are getting THE BEST!" Trump continued.
He added that the new building would be used for future presidential inaugurations thanks to its 'unprecedented structural, safety, and security features'.
So, who are these 'American Patriot Donors' who have funded the mammoth architectural project?
Well, according to the Trump administration, the list of White House ballroom donors is as follows (via CNN):