WASHINGTON D.C. – Former President Donald Trump made an unexpected appearance on the White House West Wing roof on Tuesday, August 5, 2025, to survey ongoing renovation plans for a new, privately funded $200 million ballroom. The unusual public display saw Trump interacting with reporters gathered below, an unprecedented move for a sitting or former president.
During the impromptu exchange, Trump was quoted as stating, "Just looking for more ways to spend my money for the country." This remark, initially highlighted in a tweet by "Resist the Mainstream," underscored his reported commitment to personally financing parts of the ambitious project. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt had previously announced that construction on the 90,000-square-foot ballroom, intended to replace the current East Wing, is scheduled to commence in September 2025.
The appearance, described by some news outlets as a "walk," involved Trump, accompanied by architect James McCrery, surveying the area above the press briefing room and the West Colonnade. Reporters shouted questions to the former president, who gestured and shouted responses from the elevated position. This highly visible move aligns with Trump's stated desire to leave a lasting architectural footprint on the executive mansion.
The proposed ballroom project is part of a broader effort to renovate and expand "The People's House." While the specific funding structure remains under scrutiny, Trump's public statement suggests a significant personal investment. The event drew considerable media attention, given the rarity of a president or former president engaging with the press from such an unconventional vantage point.