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President Donald TrumpThe privately funded, $200 million White House Ballroom is the latest “bold and necessary addition” to the executive residence, officials said, characterizing construction of the East Wing as a continuation of the presidential modernization that began more than a century ago.
Photos of the East Wing façade being demolished went viral on Monday, drawing criticism online and a swift denial from the White House. who wrote this “The frustrated left and their fake news allies are clutching their pearls over President Donald Trump's visionary construction of a privately funded grand ballroom… a bold, necessary addition that echoes the Commanders in Chief's storied history of improvements and additions to keep the Executive Residence a beacon of American excellence.”
White House Press Secretary Caroline Leavitt echoed the president's message Tuesday on Jesse Watters Primetime, saying, “I think there's a lot of fake outrage right now.
HILLARY CLINTON MOVES VOTERS AGAINST CONSTRUCTION OF TRUMP'S WHITE HOUSE BALLROOM: “NOT HIS HOUSE”
“Almost every president who has lived in this beautiful White House since me has done the upgrades and renovations themselves,” Leavitt added. “In fact, presidents for decades—in modern times—have joked about how they wished they had a larger event space here at the White House, something that could accommodate hundreds of more people than the current East Room and State Dining Room.
“President Obama even complained that during his time in office he had to hold a state dinner on the South Lawn and rent a very expensive tent.”
Work continues Tuesday to demolish part of the White House's East Wing ahead of construction of a new ballroom. (AP Photo/Jacqueline Martin)
IN article published on TuesdayThe administration listed more than a dozen examples of how leaders have “renovated, expanded and modernized” properties to “meet the needs of today,” from Theodore Roosevelt's West Wing in 1902 to Barack Obama Vegetable garden in 2009.
Trump first confirmed the ballroom project on Monday on Truth Social, writing: “I'm pleased to announce that ground has been broken…to build a new, big, beautiful White House Ballroom. The East Wing, completely separate from the White House itself, is being completely modernized…and will be more beautiful than ever when completed!”
“For over 150 years, every President has dreamed of a ballroom… I am honored to be the first President to finally launch this much-needed project—at zero cost to American taxpayers!” he continued by expressing gratitude to “many generous Patriots, Great American Companies and yours truly” for funding the construction. “This ballroom will be enjoyed by future generations!”
The White House Rapid Response 47 account also posted a detailed thread on Tuesday X showing how previous presidents have “renewed, expanded and modernized the White House to meet the needs of today.”
TRUMP BEGINS WHITE HOUSE BALLROOM PROJECT WITH PRIVATE FUNDING FROM PATRIOTS
This photograph provided by the Library of Congress shows the crowd outside the White House on the wedding day of Jessie Woodrow Wilson, daughter of President Wilson, who married Francis Bowes Sayre in a ceremony at the White House in Washington on November 25, 1913. (Library of Congress via AP)
Trump elaborated on the situation on Tuesday, calling the federal government “so big for nothing.”
“We're building a world-class ballroom,” he said. “You can probably hear the beautiful sound of construction behind here. This is music to my ears. People don't like it.
Trump also noted that the East Room, which is currently the largest indoor event space, is nothing more than a “cocktail area” that seats about 88 people.
During a Diwali event at the White House on Tuesday night, Trump again brought up the project and his decision not to accept the salary, quipping that “they probably owe me a lot of money” for everything he put into the building.
President Donald Trump speaks during a lunch with Republican senators in the White House Rose Garden on Tuesday. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Seneta)
“If I get money from our country, I will do something good with it. For example, I’ll give them to charity or give them to the White House,” he said. “We're rebuilding the White House and doing a great job. The ballroom is under construction. They've been trying to get it for 150 years.”
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The ballroom project is the latest in a series of Trump improvements to the hotel, which include major renovations to the Rose Garden and Palm Room.
The White House did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.
Fox News Digital's Greg Wehner contributed to this report.
