With East Wing gone, questions now turn to Trump’s ballroom donors

The Washington Post ^ | 10/24/2025 6:10 p.m. EDT | Dan Diamond and Victoria Bisset

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Ethics experts and Democrats say they are eager to know whether private donors behind the planned $300 million ballroom are poised to receive any benefits in return.

President Donald Trump’s swift demolition of the White House’s East Wing this week stunned conservationists and many Americans. But ethics experts and Democrats say they are turning to a question related to the next phase of the project: whether the donors behind the planned $300 million ballroom that will replace the demolished annex will receive any benefits in return.

Tech companies and defense contractors such as Google, Lockheed Martin and Microsoft, as well as wealthy individuals such as longtime GOP donors Stephen A. Schwarzman and Isaac “Ike” Perlmutter, have collectively covered the cost for Trump’s project, according to a list the White House released Thursday. Many of the firms and individuals have business before the administration, such as seeking future federal contracts or eyeing potential acquisitions.

“It’s very concerning to see them on this list for a project where they don’t have any intrinsic interest,” said Claire Finkelstein, a law professor at the University of Pennsylvania who founded the school’s Center for Ethics and the Rule of Law. Finkelstein said she is eager to learn more about what the companies were told and the specifics of their arrangements. “You don’t want the administration to be a shakedown organization, having the ability to go to private corporations and demand that they turn over money for pet projects,” she said.

The companies and people donating for President Trump's planned $300 million White House ballroom

The White House released a list Thursday of corporations and individuals that the administration says are helping fund the project.

	Altria Group
	Amazon
	Apple
	Booz Allen Hamilton...

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Lawfare initiated against ballroom donors in 5, 4, 3,...

[ridesthemiles]

I MAY SEND A FEW BUCKS-—CASH-—JUST TO PISS OFF MORE DEMS

[stanne]

No it doesn’t

Wa Po has nothing to report on

They’re dumb and deceitful

Who are the WaPo’s donors?

They can’t be holding afloat in the black with just their dwindling readers

[Sacajaweau]

WaPo...get over it...Let’s talk about the Dems and their dumb shutdown...

[SunkenCiv]

• Oh, Look Who Donated to Trump's White House Renovation Project [10/25/2025]

[digger48]

Did WaPo mention Comcast?

Not exactly conservative

[Empire_of_Liberty]

At least they separate the “Ethics Experts” from the Democrats...

[Paladin2]

How is Trump’s name not on the list?

[kiryandil]

The Gaslight Media marches in lockstep...

[mewzilla]

Take a good look, lefties.

The donors are Deep State, Inc.

Go figure.

I shared the list with someone today.

The jaw drop was very satisfying.

[j.havenfarm]

Exactly. They make a up a paradigm of a community of concerned persons, then report on those people’s views.

[j.havenfarm]

Exactly. They make a up a paradigm of a community of concerned persons, then report on those people’s views.

[mewzilla]

I’m thinking lemmings. Right off the cliff.

[Texas Eagle]

,Ethics experts and Democrats

Notice they have to differentiate.

[Vision]

With East Wing gone, Commies questions now turn to Trump’s ballroom donors

[Ronaldus Magnus III]

Ethics experts and Democrats

Ethics experts? AlGore, Billy Jeff Clinton, Billary, Pelousy, Schumer, Pencil Neck Schiff?

Donors?

Considering that Bezos "donates" MILLIONS to prop up The Washington Compost, and the democRATS and DemoKKKrats are really suffering since USAID was ended

[Texas Eagle]

Of course they’ll get something in return. A table for 10 at the housewarming.

[yuleeyahoo]

We all want to know what benefits WaPo’s owner Bezis is getting from his donation through Amazon.

[kiryandil]

I’m thinking lemmings. Right off the cliff.

Scott Adams was mocking the Democrap bozos over this ballroom kerfluffle yesterday or the day before.

[Texas Eagle]

Yo!, Washington Compost!, stay in your lane! Leave the parodies to The Babylon Bee.