Tech And Crypto Firms Fund Trump’s $300M White House Ballroom

President Donald Trump is overseeing the demolition of the East Wing of the White House to construct a $300 million, 90,000-square-foot ballroom intended to host large gatherings, with funding sourced entirely from private donors rather than taxpayers. The donor list, released by the White House, includes major tech companies such as Amazon, Apple, Google, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, and prominent cryptocurrency firms like Coinbase, Ripple, Tether America, and the Winklevoss twins, signaling a significant intersection of digital asset players with high-level political fundraising. Other notable contributors include defense contractors Lockheed Martin, telecommunications giants Comcast and T-Mobile, and private equity executives, reflecting a broad corporate coalition supporting the project. This marked shift in tech industry relations with Trump, including increased contributions compared to his first term, indicates a warming alliance and potential strategic engagement with his administration. While exact donation amounts remain undisclosed, it is known that Google’s contribution of over $20 million stems from a settlement related to YouTube's suspension of Trump’s account. Critics have raised concerns about the demolition of a historic structure and the bypassing of public review processes, but the White House defends the project by citing precedent from previous administrations.