The White House on Thursday defended its decision to tear down the East Wing for President Donald Trump’s ballroom and said an official name for the addition is in the works.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters the price tag for the project has climbed from $250 million to $300 million but insisted the president and “generous patriots” are footing the bill. Officials released a list of the project’s donors late Wednesday; among them are Florida-based NextEra Energy and Continental Resources Chair Harold Hamm.
“It’s not costing the taxpayers anything, the president is privately funding this ballroom addition to the White House grounds,” said Leavitt.
The president, she said, is mulling an official name for the ballroom and will announce his decision once it’s made.
