Donald Trump on Tuesday gave an update on the cost of building his much-hyped White House ballroom.

The venue, for which the president controversially tore down the East Wing to make way, will now cost $400 million, he revealed during his speech at a Hanukkah reception at the White House.

Previously, Trump had talked about the price tag for the construction project being $250 million, and then $300 million.

“We’re donating a $400 million ballroom,” Trump said, adding another $100 million to the cost.

Continuous:

“Me and the donors are giving them, free, free, we’re donating a building that costs about 400 million, I think I’ll do it for less, but it’s 400. I should do it for less. I’ll do it for less. But just in case, I say 400. Otherwise, if I spend $3 more, the press will say, ‘It costs more’. I build on budget and ahead of schedule… always. I know how to build under budget. I build well.”

“It will be the most beautiful ballroom,” Trump added. “And it will do inaugurations. It has 5-inch-thick glass windows. It’s impenetrable to anything but a howitzer. It’s impenetrable. But I will say, if one day I’m giving a speech and I hear, ‘Ding, ding, ding,’ I’m out of there.”

Demolition of the East Wing of the White House, during construction of the new ballroom expansion.
Demolition of the East Wing of the White House, during construction of the new ballroom expansion.

Bloomberg via Getty Images

Amazon, Google, Meta, Microsoft and T-Mobile have pledged money to the project. See the full list of donors here. Critics, however, have asked who will fund the maintenance of the venue once it is completed, which is planned for the summer of 2028.

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