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

The White House is getting a major upgrade with a new ballroom, but not everyone is happy about it. The project, estimated to cost $250 million, has sparked public anger, especially after images of the East Wing demolition surfaced. The question on everyone's mind is who is actually paying for this grand addition? Alphabet, the tech giant behind Google, is chipping in $22 million as part of a legal settlement with former President Donald Trump. This settlement came after Trump was banned from YouTube following the January 6, 2021, U. S. Capitol riot. The money will go to the Trust for the National Mall, a non-profit organization focused on preserving and enhancing the National Mall. Trump has repeatedly assured the public that taxpayers won't foot the bill. He claims that private donors and his own contributions will cover the costs. In a post on his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump mentioned that "many generous Patriots, Great American Companies, and, yours truly" are funding the project. However, the identities of these donors and the exact amounts they are contributing remain unclear. Some companies have confirmed their involvement. Lockheed Martin, for instance, is contributing, though they haven't disclosed how much. Other companies like R. J. Reynolds, Booz Allen Hamilton, Palantir, and NextEra Energy have also been named as donors, but details are scarce. The ballroom's design is being handled by McCrery Architects, with Clark Construction leading the construction efforts and AECOM heading up the engineering team. Trump has promised that the new structure won't interfere with the existing East Wing, saying it will be built nearby but not touching it. Despite these assurances, the Treasury Department has banned its staff from sharing photos of the East Wing, citing potential security risks. The White House has dismissed the public's anger as "manufactured outrage, " but the controversy continues to grow. Comcast, the current parent company of CNBC, was also listed as a top donor, but the exact amount of their contribution is unknown. CNBC is set to spin off from Comcast before the end of the year under a new parent company, Versant.