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Newly released documents show the Trump administration set up a legal framework allowing hundreds of millions of ​dollars in anonymous private donations to fund a planned White House ballroom, while limiting the scope of federal conflict-of-interest ‌reviews tied to the project.

The agreement — signed in October between the White House, the National Park Service and the Trust for the National Mall — lays out the legal and financial framework for a roughly $400 million project that would mark the most significant change to the White House complex in decades.

The contract ‌permits ⁠donors to remain anonymous and includes provisions restricting the disclosure of their identities, according to the document. It also establishes a review process for potential conflicts of interest involving the Park Service and Interior Department, but does not apply similar requirements to the White House or the president.

The planned ballroom would dwarf other parts of the White House campus, with administration officials describing a roughly 90,000-square-foot structure capable of hosting large-scale ​state events and receptions.

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[-] fibojoly@sh.itjust.works 7 points 3 weeks ago

The very notion of building an enormous ballroom, meaning having hundreds of people accessing the White House grounds... And then you put the ballroom above super secret headquarters? It's like they watched too many spy movies and decided, yes, let's do that! Let's have the spies come to the ball and have to create a diversion so they can sneak into our super secret underground lair... JFC what a shower of wankers.

[-] prole@lemmy.blahaj.zone 3 points 3 weeks ago

And now we're not allowed to even know who those people are.

Imagine any Democrat even suggesting something like this

[-] Mirshe@lemmy.world 2 points 2 weeks ago

They couldn't do a mountain fortress because Trump can't stand being near actual nature.

[-] CosmicTurtle0@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 3 weeks ago

I have a structured annuity but I need to bribe now. But I also don't want people to know that I've done anything illegal.

[-] stopdropandprole@lemmy.world 1 points 2 weeks ago

no transparency? then bulldoze the entire fucking thing down. fuck this monument to corruption.

[-] pelespirit@sh.itjust.works 1 points 2 weeks ago

It's not being built yet. But if you meant metaphorically, then yeah.

this post was submitted on 22 Apr 2026
87 points (100.0% liked)

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