US President Donald Trump on 20 May walked reporters through the construction site of a new White House ballroom he described as a 'drone-proof' military-grade structure, claiming it would become 'one of the most beautiful buildings' ever built in Washington, DC. The project, he said, is funded entirely by himself and private donors — with contributions reportedly totalling 'close to $400 million'.

What Trump Said About the Structure

Trump described the ballroom as serving dual purposes: a ceremonial event space and a security shield for an extensive underground complex. 'The ballroom becomes a shield for everything that you see right here,' he told reporters. 'Without that shield over the top of it, it's a shield that will totally protect what's downstairs.'

He said the underground portion extends six stories below ground level and includes, according to his account, a hospital and research facilities. The above-ground structure, he added, features 'impenetrable steel' and glass approximately four inches thick that he claimed 'can stop just about anything.'

The 'Drone Port' Claim

Among the more striking disclosures, Trump said the reinforced roof is designed to support military drone operations. 'It's drone proof,' he said. 'And it's meant for our military to be able to stay on it.' He referred to the roof as a 'drone port', adding: 'It's set up for unlimited numbers of drones.'

All air conditioning and ventilation systems have reportedly been relocated inside the building's structure. Trump said this was a deliberate security measure to prevent any interference with air quality or airflow from outside.

Design and Architectural Inspiration

Trump compared the building's aesthetic to classical Greek and Roman architecture, saying the façade was partly inspired by the US Supreme Court building. 'I always admired the façade of the Supreme Court,' he said. 'What we're doing is something that you'll never see again.'

He described the project as 'a gift to the United States of America' — one that he said addresses a longstanding logistical gap at the White House, where large events have historically been held in temporary tents on the South Lawn due to limited indoor capacity within the executive mansion complex.

Budget and Timeline

Trump acknowledged that the project's scope had expanded at the military's request. 'The only budget change would be that we doubled the size — at the request of the military,' he said. Despite the expanded scale, he claimed construction was running ahead of schedule.

He also used the occasion to criticise previous administrations over infrastructure decisions in Washington, including renovations to the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool. With the ballroom nearing completion, questions remain about independent oversight of the privately funded construction within one of the world's most secured government complexes.