Khaberni - President Donald Trump, on Friday, halted an important meeting with several top executives in the oil sector to personally check on the progress of the construction of the new ballroom in the White House.
This occurred during a meeting attended by representatives from major U.S. energy companies, including Chevron, Exxon, Shell, and ConocoPhillips, as well as senior officials in the Trump administration such as Vice President J.D. Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Energy Chris Wright, and Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum, to discuss potential investments in the Venezuelan oil sector.
Amid official interventions about the possibility of injecting $100 billion by oil companies to rebuild infrastructure in Venezuela, Trump suddenly stood up and said, "Well, I have to see this myself," and headed towards a window overlooking the site of the new hall in the East Wing of the White House, expressing his admiration for what he saw.
Trump mentioned that the project was "ahead of schedule and within budget," expressing his anticipation for the hall to be one of the largest of its kind in the world, accommodating up to 1000 people, and equipped with bulletproof glass and an anti-drone roof.
The White House had announced in October (2025) the commencement of work on this project, which spans approximately 90,000 square feet and has exceeded its estimated cost of 250 million dollars.
According to the BBC, the size of the hall is about 90,000 square feet, nearly double the size of the White House, and will accommodate about a thousand people.
Trump confirmed via social media that the project would not burden the taxpayers, as it is fully funded by private donations and his own contribution.
Trump explained that the goal of the project is to provide a large hall for hosting official events, noting that the current East Hall only accommodates about 200 people.
Despite the White House's commitment to disclose the details of the donors, a full list of names or the amount of contributions has not yet been announced, nor has the value of Trump’s financial contribution been revealed.
Regarding the demolition of part of the East Wing, the White House mentioned that the step was part of comprehensive modernization efforts related to the project, despite previous statements confirming that the new hall would be close to the building without affecting it. The wing, which includes the First Lady's offices and her staff, is scheduled to be completely renovated.
This initiative comes in the midst of widespread controversy in the United States, with criticisms from heritage preservation groups that have filed lawsuits to stop the work, arguing that the project impacts the historical character of the White House and requires additional reviews.
