What began as a plan for a 650-person East Wing ballroom at the White House has ballooned into something far larger. President Donald Trump this week displayed updated drawings showing space for as many as 1,350 guests — more than double the original estimate. The East Wing, demolished earlier this month, is being rebuilt at an expected cost of $300 million, roughly $100 million higher than initial projections, the New York Times reported.
While the president has boasted of the project’s grandeur, the design remains in flux. Official renderings published on the White House website differ significantly from those Trump held up in the Oval Office, suggesting the construction team is still adjusting key architectural elements.
Changing designs and inconsistent details
Between the July and October plans, several design inconsistencies stand out. The official July drawings showed nine arched windows facing west, while Trump’s new version includes eleven. The number of columns on the proposed northeast portico has also grown — from six to eight — in Trump’s updated renderings. That portico would replace the existing East Wing entrance used by millions of visitors during public tours.
Even the stairs leading from the South Lawn to the ballroom have changed. Some drawings depict two small curved staircases; others show a single grand staircase. A physical model Trump displayed this week featured a staircase that led “to no clear landing,” according to observers, along with several misaligned windows.
A rushed process and missing oversight
Architects and preservation experts note that design tweaks are common during major renovations. But in this case, they say, Trump has sidestepped the usual review process. Historically, major White House projects are vetted by the National Capital Planning Commission and other heritage bodies. This time, the changes appear to be directed personally by Trump, who has presented revised sketches himself rather than through formal architectural updates.
McCrery Architects, the firm overseeing the remodel, declined to comment. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the shifting plans, saying the president “is not the first to remodel the White House” and that the design process “is evolving in real time.”
A signature project with symbolic weight
The new ballroom, part of Trump’s broader reimagining of the presidential complex, is expected to host official events and high-profile gatherings once completed. But as construction moves ahead without clear final plans, it remains uncertain what the finished East Wing will look like — or how much more it will cost.
What’s clear is that the project reflects Trump’s characteristic hands-on style: ambitious, fast-changing, and deeply personal — with the final design still as much a mystery as the man shaping it.
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