President Donald Trump said Sunday that a planned White House ballroom is only the visible portion of a much larger underground military project — describing a “massive” complex currently under construction beneath it.
Speaking aboard Air Force One, Trump said the 90,000-square-foot ballroom would effectively serve as a surface-level structure above a fortified subterranean installation.
“The military is building a massive complex under the ballroom,” Trump said, adding the structure would support modern security needs, including protection against drones.
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He described the underground facility as outfitted with high-grade bulletproof materials and “drone-proof” features, signaling a significant expansion of White House security infrastructure.
Trump framed the project as both a security upgrade and a practical fix for space constraints, arguing the current White House lacks the capacity to host large-scale diplomatic events.
“When we have dignitaries coming… we have very small rooms,” he said, pointing to the need for larger, more modern facilities.
The comments mark the clearest public acknowledgment yet of the scale of construction underway at the White House — though specific operational details of the underground complex remain unclear.
The project is also facing a legal challenge from the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which sued in December 2025 alleging the administration bypassed environmental reviews and lacked proper congressional authorization.
The case is now before Richard Leon, who is weighing whether to halt construction while the lawsuit proceeds.
A key point of contention is how the project is being funded. Trump insists it is privately financed.
“All of the money… is paid by myself and donors,” he said. “There’s not one dime of government money going into the ballroom.”
If the court declines to issue an injunction, construction — including the underground military component — is expected to continue on its current timeline.
Watch the clip below:
BELOW THE SURFACE: President Trump reveals the U.S. military is building a “massive complex” beneath the planned, privately-funded White House ballroom, and that construction is “ahead of schedule.” pic.twitter.com/VDbepFqox8
— Fox News (@FoxNews) March 30, 2026
