White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt has hit back at criticism of a controversial new ballroom project after reports claimed there are design flaws in Trump’s expensive project. The backlash follows fresh scrutiny of US President Donald Trump’s proposed White House ballroom, a massive expansion project estimated to cost between $300 million and $400 million. The planned structure, part of a new East Wing, would span roughly 90,000 square feet and replace the original wing, which was demolished in 2025.Architects and design experts recently raised concerns about the proposal, pointing to several unusual features. Among them are staircases that appear to lead nowhere, fake windows, and columns that could block interior views. One of the most discussed issues is described as a staircase with no functional purpose. According to reports, some stairways in the design do not connect to any entrance.Leavitt rejected the criticism, taking aim at those behind the reports. In a post responding to a New York Times analysis, she dismissed the authors’ expertise and defended the project as necessary. She argued that the White House has “needed” a ballroom for decades and framed the expansion as an improvement to the historic site.The project has been promoted by Trump as a long-overdue addition that would allow the White House to host large events indoors, rather than relying on temporary tents on the South Lawn. MAGA supporters within the administration have also stressed that the ballroom is being funded by private donors, not taxpayers.However, critics including architects, preservationists and historians argue the scale and design of the ballroom could disrupt the historic symmetry of the White House and damage its cultural significance. Some have also raised concerns about the speed of approvals and the lack of traditional oversight processes.
