During an event on Wednesday at the White House, Donald Trump jokingly mentioned that he had once proposed to build a ballroom there. This remark came while he was signing the “No Men in Women’s Sports” executive order in the East Room. As the room filled with attendees, Trump remarked that it was so crowded that many people couldn’t get in.
“This room is packed. You know, I offered to build a ballroom. I’m very good at building ballrooms,” Trump said. “I was going to build a beautiful, beautiful ballroom like the one at Mar-a-Lago. It would’ve cost about a hundred million dollars.” He added that he made the offer to the Biden administration, but never received a response. “So, I’m going to try and make the offer to myself because we could use a bigger room,” he joked, as the audience laughed.
Trump further claimed the project would cost “nothing” and that he would cover all expenses himself. However, his financial practices have previously drawn attention, as he has been criticized for charging the government and taxpayers high fees. During his first term, he reportedly charged the Secret Service significantly more than the authorized government rate for accommodations at his hotels. This has led to millions of taxpayer dollars going to his personal businesses.
While his ballroom idea may seem far-fetched, it’s unlikely to be the last extravagant proposal Trump brings up.
