Axelrod says Trump first proposed a new White House ballroom during the Obama era, later leading to a controversial $400 million East Wing expansion.
Former White House adviser David Axelrod revealed that President Trump offered to build a new White House ballroom during the Obama administration, describing it as “the greatest” and proposing a modular space for state dinners and gatherings of world leaders.
Axelrod said he referred Trump to the social secretary, but no follow-up occurred.
Years later, Trump’s $400 million East Wing ballroom project, funded mainly by private donors, has drawn criticism from lawmakers, preservationists, and former officials.