If you’ve spent any time on social media lately, you’ve probably seen the headlines. "Trump's funding the ballroom." It sounds like a strange fever dream or maybe a sudden, unexpected pivot into supporting the legendary LGBTQ+ subculture made famous by Paris Is Burning and Pose. But before you start looking for the President at a function in Harlem, we need to clear something up. There is a massive, $300 million project underway, and it is definitely a ballroom. It's just not the kind with categories and "tens."
Basically, Donald Trump is building a literal, physical ballroom on the grounds of the White House.
The confusion is real. When people ask, "Is Trump funding the ballroom?" they are often caught between two very different worlds. One is the historic, Black and Latino-led "Ballroom Scene"—a sanctuary of vogueing and house culture. The other is a 90,000-square-foot, gold-tinged construction project that has currently turned the East Wing of the White House into a pile of rubble.
What is the White House State Ballroom?
Honestly, the scale of this thing is hard to wrap your head around. In July 2025, the White House announced they were breaking ground on a new "State Ballroom." The pitch was simple: the current East Room only seats about 200 people for dinner, which is kinda cramped when you’re trying to host a world leader and their entire entourage.
Trump’s solution? Build a venue that fits 650 to 1,000 guests. To give you some perspective, the entire original White House is roughly 55,000 square feet. This new addition is 90,000 square feet. It’s effectively doubling the size of the executive mansion. Critics have called it a "ball-doggle," while the administration insists it’s a necessary modernization that past presidents were just too "weak" to get done.
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Who is actually paying for it?
This is where the "is he funding it" part gets interesting. Trump has repeatedly said, "I'm paying for it. The country is not." But "paying for it" is a bit of a loose term here. While he has pledged his own money, the bulk of the cash is coming from a "Who’s Who" list of corporate giants and billionaire friends.
The funding is being channeled through a nonprofit called the Trust for the National Mall. Because it’s a nonprofit, those big-money donations are tax-deductible. Pretty sweet deal for the donors, right?
Here’s a look at who is actually cutting the checks:
- Big Tech: Google and Amazon are on the list. In fact, YouTube (owned by Google) is chipping in $22 million as part of a legal settlement.
- The Crypto Crowd: The Winklevoss twins (the Gemini guys) and Coinbase are major backers. Trump’s 2026 administration has been very "crypto-friendly," so the timing has raised a few eyebrows.
- Defense Contractors: Lockheed Martin has pledged at least $10 million.
- Individual Billionaires: Names like Stephen Schwarzman (Blackstone) and the Adelson family are prominent.
Is he funding it? Partially. Are his "friends" funding it? Absolutely.
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The "Other" Ballroom: Is there any support for the LGBTQ+ Scene?
Now, let's address the elephant in the room. If you’re asking about the Ballroom Scene—the cultural movement—the answer is a hard no.
There is zero evidence that the Trump administration is providing funding to the LGBTQ+ ballroom community. In fact, the policy landscape in 2026 looks quite the opposite. Between executive orders rolling back protections for transgender individuals and the implementation of parts of "Project 2025," the relationship between the administration and the queer community is, to put it mildly, incredibly strained.
For those in the scene, the "ballroom" is a place of resistance and survival. It was created because people were excluded from traditional spaces. Seeing the word "Ballroom" co-opted for a massive, gilded hall for corporate donors is, for many, a bit of a gut punch.
Why this project is so controversial right now
You’ve got to admit, the timing is wild. As the U.S. debt hits record highs, the sight of excavators tearing down the East Wing to make room for a "Gilded Age" party space hasn't sat well with everyone.
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- The Architecture: It’s been described as "Trumpian" in the most literal sense. Think gold leaf, classical columns, and enough marble to sink a ship.
- The Ethics: Ethics experts like Richard Painter have pointed out that when a company like Lockheed Martin or a crypto exchange gives millions for a president’s "legacy project," it looks a lot like "pay-to-play."
- The Heritage: Tearing down the East Wing—an area heavily renovated by Jackie Kennedy and later Melania Trump—is a bold move. Hillary Clinton even tweeted that the President is "destroying" a house that belongs to the people, not him.
What happens next?
Construction is moving fast. The goal is to have the first State Dinner in the new hall before the end of 2028.
If you’re following this because you’re worried about taxpayer money, you can (mostly) breathe easy. It’s private cash. But if you’re following this because you’re a fan of the cultural Ballroom Scene, don’t expect a "President’s Ball" with a runway anytime soon.
Actionable Insights for the Curious:
- Follow the Money: Keep an eye on the Trust for the National Mall’s disclosures. The list of 37 donors is public, but the exact amounts each company gave are still largely "hush-hush."
- Check the Progress: If you're in D.C., you can literally see the cranes from the Ellipse. The footprint is massive.
- Support the Real Scene: If you want to fund the actual ballroom community, look into organizations like the House Lives Matter initiative or local Kiki scenes that provide health services and housing for LGBTQ+ youth.
The White House ballroom is a monument to a specific kind of power and opulence. Whether it becomes a "magnificent addition" or a "gigantic boondoggle" depends entirely on who you ask—and who gets the invite to the first party.