Trump Calls New White House Ballroom a “Drone-Proof” Military-Grade Landmark; Says Project Will Be Iconic Addition to Washington

Washington, May 2026 : US President Donald Trump on Tuesday described the under-construction White House ballroom as a “drone-proof” military-grade structure, saying the ambitious project would stand among the most remarkable architectural additions ever built in Washington, DC.

Speaking to reporters during an extensive walkthrough of the construction site, Trump said the ballroom was being financed through a mix of his personal contributions and private donations, and would serve both ceremonial and strategic purposes for the United States.

“This is a gift to the United States of America,” Trump said. “And more than a gift, it’s going to be one of the most beautiful buildings that’s ever been built in the country or in Washington, DC.”

According to the President, the structure has been designed with advanced security features, including a reinforced roof capable of supporting military equipment and drone operations. He repeatedly emphasised its defensive capabilities.

“It’s drone proof,” Trump said, adding that the rooftop area would function as a “drone port” designed to accommodate “unlimited numbers of drones” for operational use.

“We call it a drone port; it’s set up for unlimited numbers of drones,” he said, while pointing toward the upper structure of the building.

Trump also revealed that the ballroom complex is being integrated with an extensive underground facility extending several floors below ground level. He said the subterranean section would house a range of secure installations.

“This goes down six stories deep,” he said. “They’re building a hospital. They’re building all sorts of research facilities.”

He added that the ballroom structure itself would serve as a protective shield for these underground components, enhancing the overall security of the White House complex.

“The ballroom becomes a shield for everything that you see right here,” Trump said. “Without that shield over the top of it, it’s a shield that will totally protect what’s downstairs.”

Detailing construction specifications, Trump said the building would include “impenetrable steel” and heavily reinforced glass measuring approximately four inches in thickness, designed to withstand extreme external threats.

“The glass is approximately four inches thick,” he said. “And it can stop just about anything.”

He further noted that all air conditioning and ventilation systems had been moved within the building structure itself for enhanced security and operational control.

“We built it all inside the building… because we don’t want to have anything having to do with air or air quality or any problems playing with the air,” he said.

Trump also compared the architectural design of the ballroom to classical Greek and Roman styles, adding that elements of its façade were 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.”

The President said the project had expanded in scale due to military input, but was still progressing ahead of schedule.

“The only budget change would be that we doubled the size — at the request of the military,” Trump said.

He estimated that private donors and companies had collectively contributed “close to $400 million” toward the project.

Trump also criticised past administrations for what he described as inefficient infrastructure spending in Washington, contrasting it with the ballroom initiative.

He noted that the White House has long relied on temporary tents on the South Lawn for hosting large official events due to limited indoor space, calling it an inadequate arrangement.

“The only way you can have an event is if you build a tent on the lawn,” he said. “And a tent does not do the job.”

The White House has traditionally depended on such temporary structures for state dinners, press gatherings, and ceremonial functions, given space constraints within the executive mansion complex.

(The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)