Trump Announces September 2028 Target Opening for White House Ballroom

President Trump said on Friday that the White House ballroom is scheduled to open in September 2028, near the end of his second term. The statement marks the first time Trump has provided a targeted opening date for the structure. Construction crews started building the ground floor this week, and the project is ahead of schedule, according to the announcement.

Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social that China has a ballroom and the United States should as well. He added thanks for the support received in advancing the project and confirmed the scheduled opening around September 2028. The announcement was accompanied by a picture from his trip to Beijing this week.

The project has drawn criticism after the White House East Wing was torn down to make way for the ballroom. The National Trust for Historic Preservation sued to stop the construction, arguing there was a lack of public review for the plans. A federal appeals court ruled in April that construction could continue for the underground portion.

Democrats and some Republicans have raised concerns about the project's cost. On Tuesday, the White House submitted a spending plan to Senate Republicans detailing how $1 billion would be allocated for ballroom security. The funding measure had been included in a budget reconciliation proposal released last week by the Judiciary panel and the Senate Homeland Security Committee.

The ballroom is intended to serve as a premier facility. Officials have described it as the finest of its kind once completed.