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Saturday, Jan 03, 2026
Outside the box.
Trump Personally Selects Marble and Onyx for White House Ballroom as Renovation Project Advances
President Trump visits Florida quarry to handpick stone for the 90,000-square-foot White House ballroom amid broader renovation and approval efforts
President Donald Trump made a high-profile visit to a Florida stone supplier to personally select slabs of marble and onyx for the planned White House ballroom, underscoring his hands-on involvement in the widely publicised renovation project.
Trump stopped at Arc Stone & Tile in Lake Worth Beach, where he viewed and chose white, pink and black stone materials expected to figure prominently in the interior finishes of the expansive 90,000-square-foot space, which has become one of the most talked-about elements of his domestic agenda.
The CEO of the supplier said he was struck by Trump’s attention to detail and noted that some of the chosen materials echo design choices the president has made at properties such as Trump Tower and Mar-a-Lago.
The ballroom project, which involves demolition of the existing East Wing of the White House to make way for the new structure, has grown into one of the largest renovation efforts on the presidential residence in decades.
Initially announced with a roughly $200 million price tag, the estimated cost has since expanded to around $400 million, reflecting design changes and enhanced specifications, including what the administration describes as security features such as bullet-resistant glass and a “drone-free” roof.
White House officials have said the ballroom will be privately funded by Trump and a group of donors, a claim that has driven debate over transparency and the proper procedural review for federal construction.
A compressed nine-week approval timeline has been laid out for review by the National Capital Planning Commission and the Commission of Fine Arts, though some preservation advocates argue that the process is too hurried and bypasses customary oversight.
Despite the controversy, Trump’s involvement in design decisions, such as selecting premium marble for flooring, walls or decorative elements, is consistent with his self-described vision for an iconic and functional space designed to host major state events and inaugurations.
Supporters say the project reflects an effort to modernise and expand the White House’s capacity for official functions, while critics highlight concerns about cost, procedural compliance and historical preservation.
The administration maintains that the ballroom will enhance the White House’s utility and reflect a blend of tradition and contemporary craftsmanship once completed in the coming years.
Trump stopped at Arc Stone & Tile in Lake Worth Beach, where he viewed and chose white, pink and black stone materials expected to figure prominently in the interior finishes of the expansive 90,000-square-foot space, which has become one of the most talked-about elements of his domestic agenda.
The CEO of the supplier said he was struck by Trump’s attention to detail and noted that some of the chosen materials echo design choices the president has made at properties such as Trump Tower and Mar-a-Lago.
The ballroom project, which involves demolition of the existing East Wing of the White House to make way for the new structure, has grown into one of the largest renovation efforts on the presidential residence in decades.
Initially announced with a roughly $200 million price tag, the estimated cost has since expanded to around $400 million, reflecting design changes and enhanced specifications, including what the administration describes as security features such as bullet-resistant glass and a “drone-free” roof.
White House officials have said the ballroom will be privately funded by Trump and a group of donors, a claim that has driven debate over transparency and the proper procedural review for federal construction.
A compressed nine-week approval timeline has been laid out for review by the National Capital Planning Commission and the Commission of Fine Arts, though some preservation advocates argue that the process is too hurried and bypasses customary oversight.
Despite the controversy, Trump’s involvement in design decisions, such as selecting premium marble for flooring, walls or decorative elements, is consistent with his self-described vision for an iconic and functional space designed to host major state events and inaugurations.
Supporters say the project reflects an effort to modernise and expand the White House’s capacity for official functions, while critics highlight concerns about cost, procedural compliance and historical preservation.
The administration maintains that the ballroom will enhance the White House’s utility and reflect a blend of tradition and contemporary craftsmanship once completed in the coming years.
