Overview

• On August 5, Trump spent about 20 minutes atop the West Wing roof surveying the footprint for a proposed 90,000-square-foot ballroom addition to the East Wing.
• He was accompanied by architect James McCrery and a heavily secured Secret Service detail that included counter-sniper teams.
• When reporters below asked about his purpose, he quipped about installing “nuclear missiles” and described the outing as a “little walk” that’s “good for your health.”
• Trump confirmed that he and private benefactors will cover the full $200 million cost, with construction set to begin in September and finish before his term ends in January 2029.
• His broader renovation campaign has already paved over the Rose Garden and applied gilded accents in the Oval Office, prompting questions from preservationists and the White House Historical Association.