White House West Wing: 3 stories at 40,000 sq ft

White House East Wing: 2 stories at 12,000 sq ft

White House, main building: 6 stories including Executive residence, ground floors and state floors at 55,000 sq ft.

Grand total sq ft of White House including both wings: 107,000 sq ft.

Trump's proposed ball room: 90,000 sq ft (compare that to the grand total of the current White House).

Cost to run the White House, annually: $714,000.00. Some cost breakdowns: heating and cooling annually - $41,790.00. Utilities - $61,000.00 annually.

How much will it cost to run the proposed Trump ballroom? I have been unable to find any estimates. I am not surprised. But it won't be a drop in the bucket.

The White House is typically repainted every 4-6 years using 570 gallons of paint. The total cost of paint and labor is difficult to calculate as prices are not fixed but increase over time. It can't be cheap though.

We have economic problems. Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security (to name a few) are in trouble due to, in part, the gross mismanagement of money (I am being polite) by the Federal government over many administrations. If any administration is truly serious about getting spending and the budget under control, of affording needed social programs for its citizens, cutting back here but spending even more there unnecessarily doesn't strike me as a reasonable formula for success.

Is the ballroom needed? No.

People have forgotten what a true need is versus a want/luxury. The Federal government will be able to continue to run using the East Room for large event gatherings. They have done so in the past and can continue to do so. It only seats 200-250? Poor babies! How they must be suffering!!

I for one doubt they have been suffering for the inconveniences they have to 'endure' by using an outdoor tent that is not appealing to their sense of visual beauty. (The Rose Garden was, at one time, a thing of beauty - they've wrecked that and now its a thing of concrete, cement or whatever the tile is made of.) Women can't wear their spike high heels and flowing gowns on grass? So wear something else. They'll survive. I've managed to 'tolerate' attending formal weddings held outdoor in a grassy garden and still look my best.


People who rely on Medicare, Medicare and Social Security are suffering when they are forced to go without needed meds/medical care or decent housing because of escalating costs and continued cuts in social programs that they paid for through their tax dollars.

Trump isn't accepting his Presidential salary? So what. He is a rich, fat cat. He is not the only President that did not accept the salary. If he can afford to plunk down millions to build this ballroom he certainly is far from financially needy.

The White House is a government building - not a palace, not a castle. We don't need a 650 seating capacity luxury ballroom to wine and dine people and other heads of state. It's a want, not a need.

I repeat - that money can be better used elsewhere. At the very least, stop the spending on luxuries. Many citizens of this country are in need and suffering. Federal government officials aren't suffering. They don't need any more luxuries.