Donald Trump was not even a presidential candidate yet, nor was he seriously considered it, when he proposed for the first time to build a large dance hall in 2010, as he had told more than one occasion and high positions of that era. The government of that time, that of the president, declined the offer through the administrative silence. Now, in his second term, the Republican will make his proposal come true: from September in the east of the historic residence to build a large ornate room in the image and likeness of what he has in his private residence of Mar-a-Lago, in Florida. The 200 million dollars that will cost to fulfill its desire (about 180 million euros) will leave their personal pocket and that of other donors, according to their spokesmen.
The project, of 8,361 square meters, will have capacity for more than 650 people. This is three times more than the largest room at the present of the White House, a building of fame much greater than the relatively reduced physical dimensions that amaze tourists: in the room this barely enters 200 people, and with a shoeler.
It is something that has raised more than one and more than twice Trump’s frustration, but also of his predecessors. Frequently, social secretaries have had to resort to tents in the garden to be able to host a sufficient number of guests in conditions of state or other equally busy events.
The future hall will culminate a whole series of steps that the current president has given to perpetuate his footprint in the White House and leave it to his personal liking. The first was to fill the Oval Office with gold. The second, to lift two masts with gigantic American flags in the north and south gardens of the residence. The third, uproots the rosemal of the historic Rosaleda of the west wing to turn that garden into a cobbled patio.
The room will be built on the wing until now traditionally occupied by the First Lady, the presidential wife, and the staff of his office. The officials who work in it will be transferred to other facilities while the works are developed, which the White House ensures that they will be completed before the presidential mandate is completed. This wing, the most recent of the building since its construction in 1902, has already lived several reforms, as indicated by spokesmen in a statement. The one planned will now significantly expand its size. The presidential office promises that the exterior appearance of the building will be respected; The drawings of the concept that accompany the statement show neoclassical style walls, with colonnatas and a gallery throughout.
“I have always said that I was going to do something about the dance hall, because there should be one,” Trump himself declared to the press at the White House on Thursday. “See a great legacy project, and I think it will be special.”
His head of Cabinet, Susie Wiles, pointed out for his part: “President Trump is at the bottom of his soul a builder and pays extraordinary attention to details. Trump’s president and White House are completely committed to collaborating with appropriate organizations to preserve the special history of the White House in the construction of a beautiful dance hall that other future administrations and generations of Americans can enjoy.”
The sketches widespread by the White House show a room in a Louis XIV style similar to the Trump mansion rooms in Mar-A-Lago, with marble soils, neoclassical columns, golden and large glass candlesticks.
The fact that the expense will be listed with private donations has begun criticism among the Democratic opposition, which point out possible conflicts of interest. “This is a large work and should clearly appear before the Assignments Committee” of the House of Representatives, responsible for passing government expenses, said congressman Mark Pocan in an interview granted to the NBC chain. “It seems that he is trying to do it with private donations, but that would be a bit weird,” he said. “Is it going to be a dance room sponsored by such or such a brand?”
The time chosen to announce the project has also caused a certain surprise. The last week Trump had and had criticized as a waste the cost of the reform, which exceeds the initial budget and exceeds 2.5 billion dollars (more than two billion euros).
