Trump says White House ballroom project is privately funded despite contractor estimate of public cost

President Donald Trump asserted on Saturday that the ongoing White House ballroom construction is proceeding ahead of schedule, under budget and is being paid for entirely by private contributions. The claim comes after the Supreme Court on Friday allowed the work to continue pending further orders.

The project, announced in July 2025, calls for a 650-seat event space that would be larger than the existing White House complex. The National Trust for Historic Preservation has sued, arguing the administration lacks congressional approval and that continued construction could make it difficult to halt the work later. Court filings indicate that about 65 % of the addition has been completed.

Contractors involved in the build have projected a total cost of roughly $600 million, with more than $300 million expected to come from public funds. Trump has previously said private donations from companies such as Amazon, Apple, Meta, Coinbase and Lockheed Martin would be funneled through a nonprofit to cover the entire expense. He has also mentioned contributions from the Secret Service and the military, though details on those amounts have not been disclosed.

"The Supreme Court’s decision allows construction to continue while we await a final ruling," the administration noted.

The dispute centers on funding sources and the legal authority to proceed without explicit congressional authorization.