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President Donald Trump speaks to the media Sunday at Lehigh Valley International Airport in Allentown, Pennsylvania. (Brendan Smialowski - AFP / Getty Images)

Fact Check: Will Taxpayers Be Paying $200 Million for Trump's New White House Ballroom?

By Randy DeSoto August 7, 2025 at 5:30am

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and others have falsely implied or outright claimed that the $200 million it will cost to build a ballroom at the White House is being paid for by taxpayers.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters last week that President Donald Trump and private donors will be paying for the entire cost, and Trump said Friday that he may be picking up the entire bill.

In a video posted to social media following the July 31 White House announcement of the ballroom project, Schumer said, “You know it keeps gettin’ worse. Today, Donald Trump and the White House announced they’re going to spend $200 effin’ million dollars to build a large, fancy White House ballroom.”

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Randy DeSoto

Contributing Journalist

SummaryMore Biographical InformationRecent PostsContact

Randy DeSoto has written more than 4,000 articles for The Western Journal since he began with the company in 2015. He is a graduate of West Point and Regent University School of Law. He is the author of the book "We Hold These Truths" and screenwriter of the political documentary "I Want Your Money."

@RandyDeSoto

Randy DeSoto wrote and was the assistant producer of the documentary film "I Want Your Money" about the perils of Big Government, comparing the presidencies of Ronald Reagan and Barack Obama. Randy is the author of the book "We Hold These Truths," which addresses how leaders have appealed to beliefs found in the Declaration of Independence at defining moments in our nation's history. He has been published in several political sites and newspapers.

Randy graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point with a BS in political science and Regent University School of Law with a juris doctorate.

Birthplace

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

Nationality

American

Honors/Awards

Graduated dean's list from West Point

Education

United States Military Academy at West Point, Regent University School of Law

Books Written

We Hold These Truths

Professional Memberships

Virginia and Pennsylvania state bars