The White House Ballroom: A Mix of Public Fury and Private Funds

The White House is undergoing a significant transformation with the addition of a new ballroom, but the project has sparked public outrage.

The Cost and Controversy

• Estimated Cost: $250 million
• Public Reaction: Anger after images of the East Wing demolition surfaced
• Funding Question: Who is paying for this grand addition?

Funding Sources

• Alphabet (Google's Parent Company): $22 million as part of a legal settlement with former President Donald Trump
• Other Confirmed Donors:
• Lockheed Martin
• R. J. Reynolds
• Booz Allen Hamilton
• Palantir
• NextEra Energy
• Comcast (current parent company of CNBC)

Trump's Assurances

• Claim: Taxpayers won't foot the bill
• Funding Sources: Private donors and his own contributions
• Quote: "Many generous Patriots, Great American Companies, and, yours truly" are funding the project
• Unclear Details: Identities of donors and exact amounts contributed

Project Details

• Design: McCrery Architects
• Construction: Clark Construction
• Engineering: AECOM
• Assurance: New structure won't interfere with the existing East Wing

Ongoing Controversy

• Treasury Department: Banned staff from sharing photos of the East Wing citing potential security risks
• White House Response: Dismissed public anger as "manufactured outrage"
• CNBC's Future: Set to spin off from Comcast before the end of the year under a new parent company, Versant