Trump Personally "Shops for Marble"... $400 Million Banquet Hall Sparks Controversy

Direct Personal Involvement and Funding in East Wing Banquet Hall Reconstruction
Controversy Over Damage to Historic Building and Bypassing Procedures

As U.S. President Donald Trump recently pushed forward with the controversial reconstruction of the White House East Wing, he was spotted personally selecting stone materials for the new banquet hall while on vacation.

According to Yonhap News Agency, citing a CNN report on January 2 (local time), President Trump visited a stone import company near his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida to examine samples of marble and onyx.

Before heading to a golf course that day, President Trump reportedly stopped by Arc Stone and Tile, a company specializing in Italian marble, to review materials to be used for decorating the banquet hall.

A White House official stated that President Trump plans to purchase the stone with his own funds. This has led to interpretations that the construction of the banquet hall is not merely a government project, but also a personal initiative by Trump to leave his own mark on the White House.

A bathroom inside the White House remodeled with glossy marble and golden handles by U.S. President Donald Trump. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

President Trump has consistently insisted on being directly involved in the project’s details. In addition to personally selecting materials, he appointed his close aide Will Sharp, the White House records secretary, as chair of the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC) to expedite procedures, and reportedly skipped some of the initial review stages that are usually mandatory before construction begins.

The banquet hall in question will have a total floor area of 8,361 square meters, with a budget of $400 million-nearly double the originally announced amount-expected to be invested. Last month, President Trump remarked, “I will donate a $400 million banquet hall,” adding, “It could be built for less, but for now, that’s the figure.”

Since his re-inauguration, President Trump has been renovating various parts of the White House. He repaved the Rose Garden, refurbished the Palm Room, and redecorated the Oval Office to suit his own tastes. His preference for white marble and gold accents is reflected throughout the renovations at both Mar-a-Lago and the White House.

However, the construction of the East Wing banquet hall is the largest and most controversial White House renovation project to date. When the East Wing was abruptly demolished in October of last year, there was backlash over damage to a historic building and disregard for proper procedures, and lawsuits were filed to prevent attempts to bypass the government planning committee.

Nevertheless, President Trump is pressing ahead and accelerating the process. He aims to complete the approval procedures early, begin construction as soon as this spring, and finish the project by mid-2028, just before the end of his term. To this end, the Trump administration plans to hold a public briefing at the NCPC on January 8, followed by a meeting with the Commission of Fine Arts (CFA).