According to Global Times on August 1, US President Trump announced that he will personally fund the construction of a new banquet hall at the White House along with an anonymous supporter, with an estimated cost of $200 million. Some commentators said that Trump's move is to leave his "personal mark" at the White House.

According to the plan, the new banquet hall will be built in the East Wing of the White House after its "modernization," and the project is expected to cost about $200 million. According to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, the budget for the project will be provided by Trump himself and other anonymous donors, and the construction is scheduled to start in September. Leavitt also stated that the project is expected to be completed "well before" January 2029, when Trump's term ends. The White House also released some concept images of the new banquet hall on its website on the 31st.

Internal concept image 1 of the new banquet hall at the White House by Trump

Internal concept image 2 of the new banquet hall at the White House by Trump

Internal concept image 3 of the new banquet hall at the White House by Trump

Susan Rice, the Chief of Staff of the White House, said in a statement: "The President and the current White House administration will fully cooperate with relevant organizations to build a beautiful banquet hall that future Presidents and generations of Americans can enjoy, while protecting the unique historical appearance of the White House."

External concept image 1 of the new banquet hall at the White House by Trump

External concept image 2 of the new banquet hall at the White House by Trump, with the new banquet hall visible on the right side of the building

The idea of building a new banquet hall at the White House is not an outlandish one. Leslie Green Bowman, who served four presidents in the White House Preservation Committee, said: "The White House has a history of expansion to meet the changing needs of presidents. I believe any future renovation plans will respect and protect this historically valuable building. It is a precious vessel of America's democratic heritage."

Previously, the White House had already installed two large flagpoles, added some golden decorations in the Oval Office of the president, and flattened the famous Rose Garden and paved it over.

Regarding his plan to build a new banquet hall at the White House, Trump stated during an event at the White House on July 31 local time that when hosting large events at the White House in the past, "we always had to set up tents outside," so constructing a new banquet hall was necessary. Trump also boasted: "No president has ever been good at (building) banquet halls. But I am good at building things."

The current banquet hall at the White House appears slightly narrow when hosting large events

It has also been reported that Trump has repeatedly expressed his desire to build a "nice" banquet hall at the White House, and even proposed to fund it with $100 million himself during the Obama presidency in 2016 — which Obama rejected. Then-White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said the proposal was "not taken seriously at all." He told reporters, "I'm not sure if placing a gilded Trump logo anywhere in the White House would be appropriate."

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Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7533438037246902819/

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