Trump Says The New White House Ballroom Will Be 'a Little Bigger' Than Initially Planned

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said Saturday that nan caller ballroom he’s adding to nan White House field will beryllium larger than first described, pinch a capacity of 900 people.

In a little telephone question and reply pinch NBC News, nan president said: “We’re making it a small bigger. It will beryllium apical of nan line, arsenic bully arsenic it tin get anyplace successful nan world.”

A White House connection successful July showed that nan ballroom would spot up to 650 people, meaning nan planned capacity has grown by astir 40%.

Trump has said nan ballroom will capable an important request astatine a crowded White House, sparing overseas leaders and different dignitaries from traipsing retired to tents group up connected nan South Lawn for dinners and receptions.

The White House has estimated nan costs astatine $200 million. Trump reiterated successful nan question and reply that he will personally thief salary for nan addition. Private donors — “patriots,” arsenic nan White House has called them — are besides expected to spot in.

A erstwhile existent property developer, Trump has taken a individual liking successful nan ballroom’s construction.

Work has already begun, arsenic Trump noted to reporters gathered Friday connected nan South Lawn.

“Right location you spot each nan trucks,” he said. “They conscionable started building of nan caller ballroom for nan White House.”

The ballroom represents nan biggest alteration to nan White House exterior since nan East Wing was expanded nether Franklin D. Roosevelt successful 1942. It will return nan spot of nan East Wing, which has traditionally served arsenic agency abstraction for nan first woman and her staff.

Trump is coming disconnected a fraught week successful which he mislaid his friend and governmental state Charlie Kirk successful an assassination. On Tuesday, he is owed to time off for England, wherever he and first woman Melania Trump will beryllium nan guests astatine a authorities banquet hosted by King Charles and Queen Camilla astatine Windsor Castle.

Trump will beryllium nan first American president to person been invited for 2 authorities visits; his first took spot successful 2019 astatine nan invitation of Queen Elizabeth, who died 3 years later.

“I look guardant to saying hullo to Charles and Camilla,” Trump told NBC News.

“It’s going to beryllium incredible. It’s specified a awesome honor.”