White House Seeks More Cash for Ballroom as East Wing Bites the Dust

The White House is on the hunt for more cash to build a massive ballroom. The project, which was initially estimated to cost $200 million, has now ballooned to $300 million. The East Wing, which housed offices for the first lady and other staff, is currently being demolished to make way for the new addition. This has sparked outrage from Democrats and others who are upset about the historic building being torn down. The White House has released a list of companies and wealthy individuals who have pledged to contribute to the project. However, they have not specified how much each donor is giving or how much President Trump himself plans to contribute. Trump has said he will donate whatever is needed. Corporations like Amazon, Apple, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, and Alphabet's Google, as well as individuals like Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, have agreed to help fund the ballroom. Despite the controversy, the White House insists that fundraising is still ongoing. Last week, Trump addressed major donors and corporate leaders at a dinner in the East Room to highlight progress on the project. He praised the attendees for their contributions, calling them "legends. " The demolition of the East Wing is expected to be completed in the coming days. The Department of the Interior is currently deciding what to do with the rubble. The White House has not announced any plans to sell pieces of the demolished walls as souvenirs. Critics have expressed concern that the project did not go through a proper review process before the East Wing was torn down. However, the White House maintains that they have been transparent about the project. They acknowledge that changes to the project's scope and cost are to be expected and that they will continue to keep the public informed.