Hassan Khan
Trump Begins Construction on Lavish White House Ballroom
Even as the U.S. government deals with a partial shutdown, there’s no pause at the White House. This week, workers began demolishing parts of the East Wing to make room for a new 90,000 square foot ballroom, a grand addition planned by President Donald Trump. The massive project worth $250 million will reportedly host up to 1,000 guests once complete.
What’s notable is that the ballroom isn’t taxpayer funded. Instead, Trump is relying entirely on private donations from some of the most powerful companies in the world.
Tech Titans and Defense Firms Step Up
According to an official list released by the White House, the donors include Amazon, Apple, Google, Meta, and Microsoft, along with defense companies Lockheed Martin and Palantir, and telecom giants Comcast and T-Mobile. Even the crypto sector is represented, with contributions from Coinbase, Ripple, Tether America, and the Winklevoss twins.
Read More: Trump Administration Agrees to Use of Musk’s xAI AI Tools
Although the exact contribution of each company remains undisclosed, reports suggest Google’s $20 million donation came as part of a settlement related to the suspension of Trump’s YouTube account after the January 6, 2021, Capitol riots.
A Shift in Silicon Valley’s Stance Toward Trump
When Trump first entered the White House in 2016, many Silicon Valley leaders kept their distance. But now, the relationship appears to have softened. Meta, for instance, didn’t contribute to Trump’s first inauguration fund, yet donated $1 million for his second. Amazon followed the same pattern rising from a modest $58,000 contribution in the first term to $1 million this time.
Industry insiders believe these donations reflect a growing alignment between Trump’s policies and tech companies’ interests, especially as his administration adopts a more relaxed stance toward antitrust enforcement.
See More: One of the Most In-Demand Skills in Silicon Valley 2025 Is Microsoft Excel
The Politics Behind the Partnership
Many major tech firms are currently battling antitrust cases and regulatory scrutiny. Under Trump’s leadership, those tensions have eased compared to the strict oversight seen under President Biden and former FTC Chair Lina Khan.
Trump’s Pro-business and pro-AI development policies have also attracted tech giants. His administration’s new AI action plan, announced in July, aims to cut regulatory barriers and boost government investment in AI infrastructure and data centers moves that could significantly benefit the tech sector.
A Ballroom That Symbolizes Power and Influence
The $250 million ballroom isn’t just a construction project it’s a symbol of the renewed bond between political power and corporate tech money. While the White House remains tight-lipped on the completion date, the project is already raising eyebrows across Washington for what it represents: a merging of influence, wealth, and ambition at the heart of U.S. politics.
In a time when Silicon Valley and Washington once stood at odds, Trump’s ballroom project marks a new era of cooperation one built not just on policy, but on shared interests and opportunity.
