Trump offered to build White House ballroom for Obama in 2010, WSJ report reveals
WASHINGTON, DC: Long before he became president, Donald Trump had a grand idea for the White House and even pitched it to Barack Obama, according to a Wall Street Journal report published on Monday, October 27.
The newspaper revealed that in early 2010, Trump, then a real estate mogul and reality TV star, offered to construct a lavish White House ballroom that could be used for state dinners, official receptions, and high-profile social events.
Trump mocked Obama’s ‘sh***y little tents’ used for state dinners
According to David Axelrod, Barack Obama’s former senior advisor, Donald Trump called him directly to make the offer, with the connection facilitated by MSNBC host Mika Brzezinski, who knew the Republican leader at the time.
“He said, ‘You have these state dinners in sh***y little tents,’” Axelrod recalled. “He said, ‘I build ballrooms. I build the most beautiful ballrooms in the world. You can come to Florida and see for yourself.’”
Trump reportedly wanted to create a modular ballroom that could be taken apart and reassembled if needed. But despite his enthusiasm, Axelrod said he was skeptical, given the economic downturn at the time.
“I was thinking, we’re in the middle of a recession, I’m not sure about this,” Axelrod told the Wall Street Journal, adding that he directed Trump to reach out to the White House social secretary, though the two “never connected.”
Trump’s ballroom vision finally realized years later
The Wall Street Journal reported that Donald Trump had been trying for at least 15 years to get approval for a White House ballroom — a space grand enough to host dignitaries, lawmakers, and celebrities.
The current White House ballroom project, initiated under Trump’s administration, is finally materializing with private donors covering the bill, now estimated at $350 million.
Sources say Trump approached the ballroom project like many of his past ventures: identifying ways to navigate federal approvals, zoning constraints, and fundraising limits.
Even Obama and Biden administration alumni backed the need for an indoor venue
While the idea may have sounded ostentatious at first, the Washington Post’s editorial board recently defended the ballroom project, citing the practical need for a permanent indoor event space.
Even the Obama and Biden administration alumni have reportedly acknowledged that the current setup, which relies on outdoor tents and portable toilets, is less than ideal for formal occasions.
At present, the White House frequently uses the South Lawn for banquets and ceremonies, often leaving guests to navigate uneven grass and unpredictable weather. Trump’s 90,000-square-foot ballroom, in contrast, is expected to provide a weatherproof, high-capacity indoor alternative for hosting world leaders.
For Trump, the ballroom project marks the culmination of a long-held vision that dates back to his private-sector days.
What began as a casual offer to Obama over a decade ago has evolved into one of the most ambitious White House renovations in modern history.
