Overview
- At an Oct. 15 East Room event, roughly 128 guests from major firms and wealthy backers were thanked for contributions, with attendees including representatives from Amazon, Apple, Google, Microsoft, Palantir, Lockheed Martin and others.
- Trump said the addition is fully financed and described a roughly 90,000-square-foot design with bulletproof glass and capacity claims up to 999 people, with cost estimates reported between $200 million and $250 million.
- Site work began in September on the South Lawn, with crews removing trees and digging as early construction proceeds on the East Wing expansion area.
- The White House says no taxpayer funds will be used, with donations routed through the Trust for the National Mall and contributions reported from companies and individuals, including money tied to a recent YouTube/Google settlement.
- Key federal design and planning approvals remain in dispute as ethics experts and some lawmakers press for donor transparency and conflict-of-interest safeguards while the administration maintains outside sign-offs are unnecessary.