News Summary
President Trump organized a dinner with influential business leaders to raise funds for a new ballroom at the White House. The $200 million project is expected to enhance the ceremonial capacity and includes notable tech and corporate donations. The fundraising is strictly from private sources, and plans for an Independence Arch were also shared at the event. Despite criticisms, support from the business community remains strong.
Washington, D.C. – President Trump hosted a dinner for business leaders on Wednesday, aimed at raising hundreds of millions of dollars for a new ballroom at the White House. The event, held in the East Room of the White House, featured representatives from nearly two dozen corporations, including some of the most notable names in technology, telecommunications, and various industries.
Approximately 128 attendees were present at the dinner, which included high-profile tech companies such as Amazon, Apple, Meta, Google, Microsoft, and Palantir. The guest list also encompassed representatives from tobacco giants Altria and Reynolds American, and telecom powerhouses T-Mobile and Comcast. Significant figures like oil magnate Harold Hamm, sugar industrialist Pepe Fanjul, and owners of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Edward and Shari Glazer, were also in attendance. Additionally, the cryptocurrency sector was well-represented, with firms like Coinbase, Ripple, Tether, and the Winklevoss twins participating.
Attendees were encouraged to make substantial contributions towards the ballroom project, which is estimated to cost $200 million. The project, described as a 90,000-square-foot addition to the East Wing, will have the capacity to accommodate up to 999 guests and will feature bulletproof glass on all sides. Several attendees proposed donations of up to $25 million, and major companies have already pledged $5 million or more. Notably, Google was highlighted for its $22 million donation related to a lawsuit concerning Trump’s YouTube suspension.
The construction for the ballroom officially broke ground last month, following plans that were announced over the summer. Fundraising for the initiative will be coordinated through the nonprofit Trust for the National Mall and will rely completely on private donations, ensuring that taxpayer money is not used in financing the project. Donors will be recognized for their contributions, with possibilities for their names to be etched in brick or stone as a show of gratitude.
Alongside the ballroom project, President Trump introduced plans for a proposed triumphal arch, referred to as the “Independence Arch”, slated to be built on the Virginia side of the Arlington Memorial Bridge. The president expressed his confidence that the new arch would be a “beautiful” addition to the area. The proposal was shared with attendees during the dinner.
The fundraising campaign has not been without its criticisms. Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren has publicly voiced concerns about the use of private fundraising for such projects. However, support for the ballroom and arch initiatives continues among the business community.
Since returning to the White House, President Trump has overseen other renovation projects, which include new flagpoles, a revamped Rose Garden designed to resemble a patio, and redecoration of the Oval Office furnishings. The recent dinner serves as a significant effort to bolster private funding for landmark projects that symbolize the presidential residence’s historical and cultural significance.
In summary, the dinner not only aims to secure funds for the ballroom, which promises to enhance the ceremonial capacity of the White House, but also emphasizes the administration’s intent to create a striking new landmark with the proposed triumphal arch. The commitment from various sectors illustrates a mobilization of support for these ambitious projects.
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Author: STAFF HERE WASHINGTON DC
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