Trump’s White House Ballroom Is Now Larger Than the Main Residence, Say Critics

President Donald Trump’s White House ballroom construction is now larger than the rest of the main residence, according to an aerial image shared on Wednesday by British market researcher Ben Page.

“I hope everyone takes a good hard look at this picture,” Rep. James Clyburn wrote after sharing the same image later that day. “Trump’s under-construction ballroom is now bigger than the rest of the White House. Much bigger. The contrast says everything you need to know about this President and his priorities.”

Trump's ballroom project costs more than initially claimed

Trump knocked down the East Wing last year to make way for the project. He initially claimed the ballroom would cost $200 million and rely entirely on private donations, but later reports showed the price tag ballooned to $600 million, with taxpayers funding half of it.

The president has frequently mentioned the ballroom unprompted in interviews, speeches, and on social media. During a January meeting with oil executives, Trump stood up to gaze out the window at the site, declaring, “Wow, what a view.”

Reactions on social media

The viral aerial images drew sharp rebukes from critics on X on November 11 and November 12, 2026.

“I want every putative 2028 candidate to pledge that on January 20, 2029 he or she will sign an executive order to tear down this monstrosity,” Norman Ornstein wrote on November 12, 2026.

Jo wrote on November 11, 2026, “The fact that a felonious madman who incited an attack on our Capitol could turn around a few years later and desecrate the White House like this, will forever be one of the most shameful stains this nation has ever known.”

Zeynep Tufekci wrote on November 11, 2026, “If a Sorkin script had “secretly razes the historic East Wing of the White House, deliberately built not to be Versailles, and then added a gilded giant ballroom with uh, “donations”, and taxpayer money in the middle of wars, tariffs and crypto”, we’d say too heavy in symbolism.”

“The absolute state of it. Like sticking a data centre next to Buckingham Palace. A monstrous carbuncle. Please tell me you’ll remove it when you come to your senses,” Dominic Waghorn wrote on November 12, 2026.

Michael A. Cohen wrote on November 12, 2026, “Every Democrat running for the White House in 2028 needs to pledge to tear down this ferkakta monstrosity upon taking office.”

TerasGhost wrote on November 12, 2026, “attn: (D)candidates for POTUS:if you want support for 2028, you must first guarantee destruction of fat ass ballroom and the removal of his name and likeness from Everything.if not on board.don't waste my time.this👇 vulgar monstrosity is what unchecked power looks like.”

“TEAR IT ALL DOWN EARLY 2029, and rebuild the East Wing to scale! Restore the Rose Garden. Dig up that ugly concrete patio and replant the grass. Tear down every piece of gold trash on our WH walls,” Catherine Votes Democratic wrote.