Donald Trump is eager to finish the construction of his glitzy new ballroom so he can entertain guests like King Charles.
The US president argued that the King’s upcoming state visit shows the need for the White House ballroom.
His controversial construction project saw the Roosevelt-era East Wing demolished to make space for the new 90,000-square-foot entertainment space.
However, the construction now faces a legal challenge trying to stop it on federal parkland, where the White House is located.
Trump told a meeting with farmers yesterday with views of the building site: ‘That’s a big dig. We’re building a ballroom.
‘So when the president of China, France, when somebody comes over from the UK, including the King, we have the King coming over very shortly, King Charles, so we can have, like, a large room, because the White House is incredible, but it never had a ballroom.
‘That’ll be the finest ballroom anywhere in the world when it’s completed.
‘I love construction. I love building beautiful things.’
Trump’s new lavish ballroom will have floor-to-ceiling white and gold decorations, the concept images revealed, matching his current shiny Oval Office decor.
Once complete, the room can fit around 1,000 seated guests.
The demolition of the East Wing, which traditionally housed the First Lady’s office, attracted backlash last year.
The East Wing was built in 1902 and expanded in 1942 during the Second World War.
The ballroom has clearly been on Trump’s mind. During a meeting with oil firm bosses over Venezuela in early January, the POTUS suddenly got up mid-sentence.
He then said he has to admire the view through the window where the entrance to the ballroom will be.
‘Wow, what a view. This is the door to the ballroom,’ the 79-year-old said.
‘If the fake news would like to take a look to you can,’ he said. ‘You’ll see a very big foundation we are moving. We are ahead of schedule on the ballroom and under budget.’
Trump continued after sitting back down: ‘I don’t think there will be anything like it in the world, actually.’
He has also faced calls to pause the construction due to the ongoing war in Iran.
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