Donald Trump gave an update on his beloved White House ballroom at an event on Thursday, where he and First Lady Melania signed an executive order to expand resources for teens who have aged out of the foster care system.
After the first lady shared remarks from the East Room, the president took over, saying he was “delighted” to sign the Fostering the Future initiative. During his speech, Trump took a moment to mention the wall behind him.
“And right behind me, by the way, in about two years from now, is a much bigger room because we had to turn away a lot of people,” he said, turning to the wall. “And it’ll be right here. This will be the entrance.”
Trump said the wall would “look a lot better in a little while,” as it will turn into the entrance for the new White House ballroom.
“And we’re going to go from this room into a room that seats a few more people. It’s gonna be beautiful,” he said, adding that the ballroom has become pretty popular and something that people have wanted for 150 years. “
The White House State Ballroom was announced in July 2025 and is planned to be a 90,000-square-foot venue for formal events. The ballroom is expected to have a seating capacity of 900 people.
Construction of the ballroom began in September 2025 with the demolition of the East Wing. Construction continued through the historic 43-day federal government shutdown, sparking criticism as thousands went without pay for over a month.
Initial reports said the project is expected to be finished before Trump’s term ends in 2029, but Trump mentioned it could take as little as “about two years.”
Fostering the future
The Trumps signed an executive order, creating the Fostering the Future program to bring together federal entities, nonprofits, educational institutions, and the private sector to develop opportunities for children transitioning out of the foster care system.
The order will also create an online network that would help foster children connect with career and educational resources. Melania said the order “gives me tremendous pride,” and that the effort is “both empathetic and strategic.”
“I call on leadership from these various organisations, including the private sector, to join my effort,” Melania said during her remarks, calling on others to “Rise above the ease of inaction.”
Meanwhile, the president noted that Vice President JD Vance and Second Lady Usha Vance were also involved in Melania’s efforts, asking them to stand up to be applauded.
“We’re going to have absolutely incredible results,” he said.
