#rose-garden
3 entries with this tag
The Ballroom Trump Promised Would Cost $200 Million and Be Paid For by Him and Private Donors Has Ballooned to Roughly $900 Million in White House Construction — Now Primarily Billed to Taxpayers, With About $500 Million Reportedly Diverted Without Congress's Approval, After the Historic East Wing Was Demolished to Build It
When Trump announced his White House ballroom in July 2025, the White House said it would cost about $200 million — and that Trump himself and unnamed private donors would pay for it. A Washington Post investigation published August 12, 2026 found the reality: the administration is now set to spend at least $900 million — roughly $927 million — on White House construction, and it is primarily taxpayers, not Trump or donors, footing the bill. The figure covers the roughly 90,000-square-foot ballroom (built where the historic East Wing was demolished), a new South Lawn helipad, and the paving-over of the Rose Garden. The cost has more than quadrupled from the promised $200 million, climbing to $600 million by June 2026 and past $900 million by August. Reporting indicates roughly $500 million in taxpayer funds was diverted to the projects without congressional approval — Congress holds the constitutional power of the purse, and appropriating public money to a president's vanity construction without its sign-off is exactly the kind of end-run that power exists to prevent. Trump defends the ballroom as a secure, modernized venue with bomb shelters and hardened communications. But the through-line is simple: a president promised to build a monument to himself on his own dime, tore down a piece of the People's House to do it, and then sent the public a nine-figure bill it never agreed to pay.
UFC to Pay White House Cage Match Fighters in Crypto Issued by Trump's Own Company — While He Owns the Stock, Sells $12,000 Coins, and Hosts a $1M-Per-Plate Fundraiser
UFC Freedom 250 fighters at the White House will receive bonuses in USD1 — a stablecoin issued by World Liberty Financial, co-owned by the Trump family (75% of profits) and Steve Witkoff's family. Witkoff is Trump's Middle East envoy — the man negotiating the Iran ceasefire. A second $1 million bonus pool pays fighters in CRO from Crypto.com, which has donated millions to Trump's super PAC and partnered with Trump Media on prediction markets and ETFs. Trump bought TKO stock before promoting the event. The Trump Organization sells co-branded coins up to $11,999.99. A $1 million-per-plate super PAC fundraiser is the night before. Ringside sponsorship: $1M+. The octagon features logos from Crypto.com, Polymarket (Don Jr. is an advisor), VeChain, Stake, and Exodus. A former DOJ prosecutor called it "a real distillation of this administration: take public property and use it for private benefit." The White House claims the government "is not making any money on this event." The president is.
Rose Garden COVID Superspreader Event
The White House held an unmasked, crowded ceremony for Amy Coney Barrett's nomination. At least 37 people were infected, including Trump himself, who was hospitalized for three days. The White House then blocked contact tracing.