Trump's $400M White House Upgrade: Ballroom & Military Complex

0:00On March 30, President Trump is pushing forward with a massive White House upgrade, building a 90,000 square foot ballroom right where the old East Wing used to be. This $400 million project replaces the demolished structure from last October and sits atop what he calls a huge four to five military, complex underneath. Trump shared a big rendering of it with reporters on Air Force One Sunday, hyping up bulletproof glass and a drone-proof roof. He said the ballroom basically acts like a cover for the underground build, which got exposed because of a lawsuit. White House spokeswoman Caroline Levitt confirmed Monday that the military is handling upgrades to their facilities there, but she wouldn't spill. More details. Critics like lawmakers, historians and preservation groups slammed the demolition for skipping federal reviews and public input. They also hate the new look on historical grounds, and there's an ongoing lawsuit challenging it. The Capitol Planning Commission has a vote on the project set for Thursday.

1:01Trump says it's essential to fix the outdated cramped spots at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue that can't handle modern events for up to 1,000 people. This could reshape how the White House handles big gatherings and security for years. You've been listening to Global News today, AI-powered Global Coverage.