Summary
President Donald Trump has started building a $300 million ballroom at the White House, replacing the East Wing. The project is privately funded by individuals and companies like Google and Amazon, raising questions about potential access for donors. Construction began without the usual federal approvals due to a government shutdown.
Key Facts
- President Trump is building a $300 million ballroom at the White House site of the former East Wing.
- This is the first major change to the White House structure since 1948, involving the demolition of the East Wing.
- Funding comes from private donations by individuals, corporations, and tech companies, including Google and Amazon.
- YouTube will pay $22 million as part of a legal settlement related to an account suspension in 2021.
- The project started during a government shutdown, bypassing approval from the National Capital Planning Commission.
- Donors might receive "recognition" for their contributions, though details are not clear.
- Trump claims the ballroom costs nothing to taxpayers, and he also plans to contribute.
- Major donors like Amazon and Apple have been involved in recent legal settlements in the U.S.
