Trump’s White House Ballroom Reaches a Major Construction Milestone
Construction on President Donald Trump's White House ballroom continues to progress in the wake of the Supreme Court's August ruling that allowed the once-stalled project to proceed. The structure has now officially topped out , meaning it's reached its final height. On Wednesday, the day after the midterm elections, Trump invited reporters inside the 90,000-square-foot building as he signed the final structural steel beam before workers hoisted it into place.
The $600 million project, which sits on the site of the now-demolished East Wing, has a height of 51 feet and will include two above-ground floors, plus a new underground national security center. The Executive Residence portion of the White House reaches a height of 70 feet at its tallest point, the South Portico, although the majority of the structure is shorter.
President Donald Trump speaks to members of the media during an event at the site of the White House ballroom on November 4, 2026 in Washington, DC. During the event, Trump signed the last remaining steel beam being used in construction of the ballroom.Andrew Harnik - Getty Images
Architect Shalom Baranes's design closely aligns with the White House's neoclassical style, with traditional colonnades, arches, and cornice lines. The centerpiece will be an elaborate 22,000-square-foot ballroom with a seating capacity of about 1,000. Trump has repeatedly claimed that the lavishly gilded space is set to have ceiling heights that reach 40 feet. Additionally, he revealed on Wednesday that marble for the floors had been selected and ordered.
Construction continues on the White House ballroom on October 27, 2026.Anna Moneymaker - Getty Images
The building is slated to hold office space for the First Lady, who traditionally kept an office in the East Wing, as well as a new movie theater to replace the one formerly located in the now-razed East Wing Colonnade.
Since taking office, Trump has proposed myriad construction projects in the nation's capital, from a 250-foot-tall triumphal arch across the Potomac River from the Lincoln Memorial to a helipad on the South Lawn of the White House. The ballroom is expected to reach completion prior to the end of Trump's term in January 2029.
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