Donald Trump wants to build a $100-million ballroom in the White House
Donald Trump may be eyeing the White House, but instead of measuring the drapes he's dreaming of a giant ballroom.
"I called up the White House about a year ago," the boisterous billionaire told ABC News' George Stephanopoulos. "And I saw that they were having lots of functions for people like the president of China … and I said, 'Listen, every time I see a function, you put an old broken canvas tent that they probably pay some guy, some local guy a fortune for.' I said, 'I will build you, free of charge,' to a very high official at the White House, 'one of the great ballrooms of the world,' " Trump said.
The official was David Axelrod, who confirmed with ABC that the proposed ballroom would be a lot like the gaudy white-and-gold spectacle at Trump's 118-room, 65,000-square-foot-plus Palm Beach, Fla., estate, Mar-A-Lago.
Trump says such a room would cost "maybe $100 million. Anywhere from $50 to $100 million."
What good is being a billionaire if you can't allow yourself some wiggle room when building a ballroom?
Trump says he would bring in the world's top 10 architects, set up a committe, and then be democratic about the much-needed ballroom with the eight- or nine-figure price tag.
"We’ll pick the one that everybody agrees, because it's a little delicate," Trump, who has recently been a fixture on TV talk shows, said. "You know, it is the White House, after all."
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Note: Andrew Malcolm is on vacation.
-- Tony Pierce
twitter.com/busblog
Photo: Donald Trump holds court with the media in the ballroom of his Mar-A-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Fla. Credit: Joe Skipper / Reuters
One hundred years from now, there will be no monument to Donald Trump, and no one will speak his name. He simply won't matter, any more than he matters today.
Posted by: pupdog | April 19, 2011 at 12:42 PM
why don't you used your money to make more small business rather spending on not important.
Posted by: carlos | April 19, 2011 at 12:44 PM
Personally I hope Dumold Trump gets the Republican nomination. It would be the best thing to happen to the Democrats since Crazy Sarah Palin!
And while we are at it I think DT should produce a copy of the hunting permit for killing that dead squirrel on his head!
Posted by: Rick | April 19, 2011 at 12:48 PM
Seriously folks. You're being used. FOR FREE. This is another Trump publicity stunt. First off, Donald Trump has one of the lowest self esteems of any rich guy you've likely come across, needing to put others down to try to impress (most recent, Mitt Romney, who is a successful hundred+ millionaire and a gentleman). Only jerks brag about their money.
Trump's TV show ratings are in the toilet, up for renewal, and might get cancelled. Ever notice he requires show participants to address him as "Mr Trump." I mean, a Janet Jackson or a Dionne Warwick having to say Mr Trump to play his game??? What a self serving xxshole. Think about it.
Then talk to an insider on Wall Street who has worked with this man; nothing will surprise. Even Wall Street can't stand him, but fees received doing business with him are as green as the next guy. Sometimes they tell him to take a hike and forget a deal; he then reminds them of who he is, and brings out the insults.
Don't believe for a minute Trump was ever serious about a $100 million ballroom. Trump knew it could make headlines. He receives 1/2 the profit The Apprentice produces. His show might get cancelled for low ratings. It's the PUBLICITY, stupid!!
Posted by: Bob | April 19, 2011 at 12:49 PM
Well, he did say free of charge
Posted by: jarod wilson | April 19, 2011 at 12:51 PM
Please Lord, let Trump be the Republican candidate. They would lose in probably the biggest landslide in the last 100 years.
Posted by: John | April 19, 2011 at 01:13 PM
What a horse's AS$- If he only knew he was destroying his TV personality worse than it already is!!! A $100 million dollar ballroom..really? seriously? How about helping all the schools that are not having any extra programs because of funding? how about helping the local food pantries? We all know he gives to charities..but I'm sure because of the tax loop holes he doesn't pay much in taxes. Shame on you Donald..shame on you. Double shame if you think we are too stupid to know you're a big fat jerk!
Posted by: Kate | April 19, 2011 at 01:13 PM
This guy is a promotional savant, pure genius. He has every Republican babbling his name like bunch of groupies. The press follows him around like a herd of cattle. He gets more press than a dozen pantiless starlets. His "presidential run" makes Stephen Colbert's run look like a 2nd grade class clown's. Too bad he's not really running; the Democrats would not get enough press time to promise a hope.
He was born with a silver bullhorn in his mouth, which he promptly upgraded to gold.
Posted by: Michael | April 19, 2011 at 01:20 PM
Perfect! Just goes to show what any and all of those who want a seat on Capitol Hill will do wrong. A ball room you say? Why yes. So we can entertain our special interest parties and mud slingers. Suck in the foreign affairs people to join in on the fun and have a party or two on the dime of the taxpayer. Don...if you somehow end up in the White House, I will be sure to reach out and bitch slap you personally.
Posted by: Robeye | April 19, 2011 at 01:24 PM
The toupee'd one hasn't even got elected yet and he's already planning on outspending his predecessor. This is all just a stunt to increase the viewership of the jaded 'Apprentice'.
Posted by: Alkracker | April 19, 2011 at 01:25 PM
If Obama is doing such a great job why does he feel the need to raise a billion dollars to get reelected? Would that money not be better spent on the American people? Trump is a builder. I don't think the american people will elect someone who has not held a government office so stop being so scared. We need leadership with results and not just great speeches.
Rebuilding of America!
I think the White House needs a kitchen remodel as well...
Posted by: CulverSmity | April 19, 2011 at 01:28 PM
Free of charge? Put him in office. Seems like he's got the business savvy to get the jobs done.
Posted by: P-FUNK | April 19, 2011 at 01:57 PM
Wow! When will the Trump fiasco end?
Posted by: O. A. | April 19, 2011 at 02:03 PM
I want to see HIS birth certificate. I don't think he was born, uh..., on this planet.
Posted by: Nova Yos Galen | April 19, 2011 at 02:15 PM
A ballroom at the White House? You mean like a place to bring millionaires and billionaires together to raise money for charities? Make them sit in the tent. See if they show up. A ballroom at the White House? You mean a place to bring world leaders, diplomats, and Heads of State together to make nicey-nice with each other instead of going to war with each other? F- That. Make Them Sit In A Tent!! See if they show up.
Stay Classy L.A...
Posted by: Joe | April 19, 2011 at 02:15 PM
Donald seems to be able to just call up Axlerod anytime he wants.....Is Donald in the phonebook ?
Posted by: Joe | April 19, 2011 at 02:26 PM
In many ways I like Trump esp what he says about China and being strong and decisive - and Winning because NOW with this present president WE ARE LOSING and if something drastic isn't done soon (2012) we will continue to sink BIG time and me and the MANY MANY other small business owners will continue to be on the edge AS IS THIS COUNTRY and all the unemployed and people facing foreclosures and cannot heat their homes, fuel their cars and On & On!
Obama IS as Trump says the worse president EVER ! Better GET A BACK BONE LIBERALS because you couldn't protest your HATE in the countries you defend so much--
I don't want and don't need a ball room but we sure as heck don't need a president that bows and chums with DICTATORS! ANY ONE BUT the present president in 2010!
Posted by: Sally Cartwright | April 19, 2011 at 02:36 PM
The Cabinet could get combovers and/or gigantic breast implants. We would be made over in The Donald family image.
Posted by: blackone | April 19, 2011 at 03:30 PM
Trump is an attention getter and a character. But you yellow belly leftists just can't get enough of him. What a terrible man, he's a success? How dare him!
You see the left hates America, they are always looking for the downtrodden & disenchanted. Trump is so terrible, where as the community organizer, the thin skin, world citizen is proving what a leader he is. Another 4 years with Obama and we might as well hand the country over to China.
Posted by: Mike Neice | April 19, 2011 at 04:00 PM
MR TRUMP IS WHAT USA NEEDS IT IS ABOUT TIME WE GOT RID OF WINDBAG POLITITIONS WE NEED TRUMP BADLY
Posted by: VICTOR BEARENJER | April 19, 2011 at 04:44 PM
Self serving my asx he makes jobs!!!! for our country!!! and pays his taxes!, gives to more charity's than you ever will!!.. If he wants to make a nice ballroom for our White House with his own money why not? you are ridiculous! Mar alago is a nicer place than the white house and bigger and classier why would he even want to live there?Maralago was built for a President get away and they didnt want it so he bought it!! they said it was pretentious? putting a tent outside for a ballroom in the USA is classless! you all dont get it! gas prices are so high your not going to be able to afford a loaf of bread! He doesnt want to run!!!! he has plenty of money he doesnt need to run and another thing it would be horrible if the apprentice doesnt give hundreds of thousands to charity like it does. Thankfully Donalds oldest son runs a charity organization for SR JUDES for children who need help! you guys are jealous you have no class no money and keep electing lames who arent even in Donald Trumps league! so what he rich and has class obviously your jealous GOT TRUMP? NO YOU DONT! your bad! LOL GO DONALD !!!!
Posted by: Nancy | April 19, 2011 at 04:51 PM
yah Donald fix the lame white house make it a place with some class and get the OBUMMERS out of there! Make it a place of respect and class that it hasnt had since who knows when get in there and make charity functions and make millionaires and billionairs pay to the government to see the inside! make them pay big!!! put the money back the government ripped us off for! and lower the deficit with money we lost from other countries taking advantage of us make them pay DONALD get our books right and this deficit down!!
Posted by: Nancy | April 19, 2011 at 04:57 PM
This is dumb people saying he wants to foot the bill and the american people need the 100 million he gives millions and millions to charity and if he builds the ballroom and he pays for it he'll charge to see itor to come to functions in it and help the deficit or charity!! believe me he will!! no body rides for free with him and he will make our country great again! he has class and a tent please thats ghetto! and you know it! ITS THE WHITEHOUSE!!! he thinks that place is ghetto and maralago is nice compared to it! ITS TRUE!! haters are jealous he wants to improve things you guys are dumb!!!if he wants to use his money to build it so what if he wants to give 100 million to charity like he already has let him!!!not your frigging business what he does with money he has earned!! he pays his taxes!! makes jobs for US in the USA what do you do besides critisize with your small brain? your not even in his league!
Posted by: Nancy | April 19, 2011 at 05:12 PM
Last year 1 million self employed firms were lost...now that is the change I was looking for....
Throw them all out starting with the President...oh wait can someone find him...? time for another vacation..lol
Posted by: Don | April 19, 2011 at 06:12 PM
It is funny only if it wasn't so sad!
Posted by: Omida | April 19, 2011 at 07:31 PM
To all you Trump Haters.
He makes more money a day than any of you loosers will make a whole life time.
With or without his dad's help.
TRUMP FOR PRESIDENT 2012
Posted by: THE A MAN | April 19, 2011 at 07:38 PM
So he wants to be the first Clownsident?
Posted by: joe zuazua | April 19, 2011 at 08:12 PM
What happened to the Tea Party and small government?! Now this guy wants to build
himself a palace when elected? I don't mind paying taxes for medicare, but I'm no
surf pay for your own palace!
Posted by: Larry | April 19, 2011 at 08:28 PM
Its good to see the money is being well spent... not on people that need it like those who dont have food, shelter or on medical research... COME ON TRUMP help the ones that need it... You have enough money to put africa A WHOLE COUNTRY out of hunger,
do soemthing
Posted by: Danny | April 19, 2011 at 08:44 PM
These are his priorities; building a ballroom in the White House and trashing President Obama for not showing his birth certificate. All this from a man who has filed for bankruptcy five.....yes.....FIVE times. This guy is going to balance our budget. What a total egomaniac.
Posted by: ellen morrissy | April 19, 2011 at 08:55 PM
I want Trump to prove he doesn't have Jimmy Hoffa's dead body under his piss colored wig.
Posted by: marty59 | April 19, 2011 at 09:06 PM
Perhaps Obama could ask him to build a school, or a fresh produce market in an inner city neighborhood, something that wouyld be used everyday by citizens which would require far less in chandeliers and faux-gold fixtures.
Posted by: Abaiatha | April 19, 2011 at 09:08 PM
I assume "free of charge" means he wouldn't demand naming rights, ie "The Trump White House Ballroom", which is how he made much of his $$$. Maybe he'd donate the labor involved, but I seriously doubt he'd be paying for the materials. At this point I can't tell if he's putting on his, (like Joaquin Phoenix was on Letterman) or if he's really this crass. I much preferred the round-clock-coverage of Sarah Palin when she was the media darling.
Posted by: JamesRav | April 19, 2011 at 09:09 PM
Trump is thirst for publicity, everyone ignore him and act like he doesn't exist, he will go away. $$$ Rich person with too much money that don't know what to do with it.
Posted by: Sara | April 20, 2011 at 08:00 AM
I see people saying stop Trump. Did any of these people see free of charge. For free take, for pay waste time.
Posted by: Charlene | April 20, 2011 at 09:27 AM
I was in Las Vegas last fall and had the unfortunate view of the GOLD Trump tower from my hotel room. Also destroying the view was the unfinished second Trump Tower that was stopped mid construction because the first one hadn't made money.
Best line was when he said he had the good taste to build a nice ballroom. I envision a gold building taller that the White House with TRUMP plastered on it. Did anyone tell Trump that the White House is considered a historical buidling?
Well, history does confound him. For a start, since he keeps bringing it up in his bash Obama campaign, Trump ( and Palin) needs to go back to high school history and learn about South Korea. Trump, though young at the time, was alive during the Korean confict. He should fully understand why there is US presence there. Trump really is too dumb to be a volunteer on a county commission.
Posted by: Elizabeth | April 20, 2011 at 12:53 PM
Now why would he want to do that?
Posted by: Ed | April 26, 2011 at 11:10 AM
I've actually only known 2 Donalds.....Trump and Duck! ....Duck is way more fun to listen to..!
Posted by: Politicrap | April 27, 2011 at 10:59 AM
Posted by: Politicrap | April 27, 2011 at 11:01 AM