Donald Trump promised taxpayers wouldn’t pay a dime for his White House ballroom project. However, reportedly, the actual cost breakdown tells a very different story, according to newly obtained contractor documents.
Donald Trump’s ballroom might cost taxpayers despite private funding, claims report
President Donald Trump claimed private donors would fully fund the White House ballroom project, according to The Washington Post. However, contractor estimates and invoice logs reveal taxpayers may cover more than half the costs. Trump told reporters on March 31 that “this is taxpayer-free” and that no public money would go toward construction.
A detailed project summary prepared by Clark Construction estimated the total cost at $600 million. The March 5 estimate showed nearly half, around $293 million, would come from private sources. The remaining $307 million would come from the Secret Service, the White House Military Office, and the Executive Residence.
The White House first announced the project on July 31, 2025, with a $200 million price tag. A preliminary estimate from July 11 had already projected costs at $270 million. More than $100 million of that figure was expected to come from taxpayer-funded agencies.
By October, Clark Construction estimated the full project would cost $478 million. Taxpayers were expected to fund nearly half of that amount. Trump told reporters at the time that “me and some friends of mine” would cover costs.
Three contracting experts reviewed the documents at The Post’s request. Stan Soloway, a former Pentagon acquisition official, said taxpayers are clearly funding parts of the ballroom. “I think it’s inevitable that it bleeds over,” he said. “It’s one structure.”
Anthony Costa, a former General Services Administration official, questioned the Secret Service’s involvement in demolition funding. “How is that something Secret Service should do and fund?” he asked.
Seven Republican senators joined Democrats to block a $400 million spending proposal for the project. Sen. Susan Collins said Trump’s commitment to use private donations “should be kept.”
