US President Donald Trump has the support of large technology companies and tycoons to build a new ballroom at the White House, with an estimated investment of 300 million dollars (around 258 million euros).
Among the donors, Amazon, Apple, Meta, Microsoft and Google stand out, according to a list released by the government.
The financiers also include prominent figures such as investor Konstantin Sokolov, Republican financier Harold Hamm, and former senator Kelly Loeffler, accompanied by her husband Jeff Sprecher, director of Intercontinental Exchange. Recently, Benjamín León, Cuban tycoon and new US ambassador to Spain, was also confirmed as a donor.
Last week, Trump organized a dinner at the White House, where he stated that the sponsorship would be “the price for access to the President” and guaranteed that the renewal would not cost the public treasury anything.
The demolition of the old East Wing, which began this week, has generated controversy as it has not yet received the necessary approval from the responsible government agencies. Heritage organizations demanded the suspension of the demolition, citing the need for public consultation for the ballroom project, which will have 8,361 square meters and capacity for 999 people.
Although Trump stated that the East Wing would not be completely demolished, heavy machinery has already reduced the structure to rubble. The new hall project should be completed before the end of his term, in January 2029.
The East Wing, built in 1902, was originally designed to balance the famous West Wing, which houses the Oval Office.