Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman has expressed his support for President Trump’s $200 million proposal to renovate the White House Ballroom, a project that won’t come cheap for taxpayers.
“Based on what I’ve read, the plans seem to be executed in a tasteful, historic manner,” the Democrat shared during a conversation. “They’re not creating a Dave and Buster’s here, so upgrading some facilities seems pretty standard. I’m not overly opinionated on it; my surprise isn’t really a factor here.”
The White House State Ballroom, which is about 90,000 square feet and located in the East Wing, will have a capacity for 650 people once completed.
This renovation marks the first major structural change to the White House since the Truman Balcony was added in 1948, and it will be privately funded.
“If it ultimately saves taxpayers’ money, then I think it’s a reasonable undertaking,” Fetterman remarked, countering criticisms from within his party who labeled the initiative a costly misadventure. “At the end of the day, it’s an investment in the White House, and honestly, it might not be finished by the time he leaves office.”
Trump had previously assured a quick turnaround on the ballroom, although White House officials recently indicated that completion is expected to stretch beyond his second term.
Republicans argue the need for this project stems from the East Room’s limitations, which is the largest event space in the White House but often struggles to accommodate significant gatherings.
“We’ve got a lot of dignitaries to host, from the president of China to other leaders,” Trump noted in July when he unveiled the renovations to the White House.
“Currently, if events exceed capacity, setting up a tent outside is the only option. And when it rains? It can get quite chaotic.”
The Ballroom is just one part of a series of updates Trump has initiated at the White House, which also include new flagpoles on the grounds and a shift from grass to stones in the Rose Garden.
Construction for this new event space is slated to begin in September.
