President Donald Trump has openly acknowledged that his controversial White House ballroom project serves as a personal monument, according to remarks shared by Fox News host Jesse Watters during a recent conservative conference.
Speaking at the Turning Point USA AmericaFest conference in Phoenix, Arizona, on Saturday, December 20, 2025, Watters, 47, recounted a conversation with the 79-year-old president about the massive construction project currently underway at the White House. The television host described being shown renditions of the ballroom during a dinner meeting where the two dined on Mexican food.
“He rolls the whole thing out. And guys, I don’t know if you know this — the ballroom is huge,” Watters told the crowd. “I said, ‘Mr. President, the ballroom is four times the size of the White House.'”
Watters then delivered what he characterized as Trump’s candid response: “He said, ‘Jesse, it’s a monument. I’m building a monument to myself because no one else will.'”
The 90,000-square-foot ballroom represents one of the most ambitious alterations to the White House complex in modern history. Trump’s administration demolished the East Wing in October to make way for the structure, which has drawn intense criticism from historic preservation advocates and political opponents.
The project’s budget has escalated dramatically since its inception. Originally allocated $200 million, early estimates placed costs between $250 million and $300 million. Trump has now indicated the total expense will reach approximately $400 million, funded entirely through private donors rather than taxpayer money.
Major corporations including Microsoft, Amazon, and Lockheed Martin are among the entities providing financial support for the construction. The funding arrangement has raised questions about potential conflicts of interest, given that several donor companies maintain significant government contracts.
The ballroom project has faced legal challenges from preservation groups concerned about the destruction of historically significant portions of the White House grounds. The National Trust for Historic Preservation filed a lawsuit seeking to halt construction, arguing that work began before proper reviews and congressional approval were obtained.
On December 17, a federal judge ruled that construction could proceed, rejecting the preservation group’s request for an injunction. Trump announced the favorable ruling at a Hanukkah reception shortly after the decision.
The construction has already resulted in the destruction of elements created during previous administrations, including the rose garden designed by Jackie Kennedy. This loss has drawn particular criticism from members of the Kennedy family.
Jack Schlossberg, grandson of Jackie Kennedy, has been among the most vocal critics of Trump’s renovation plans. His opposition intensified after Trump’s administration also moved to rename the Kennedy Center as the Trump-Kennedy Center, further cementing the president’s efforts to attach his name to Washington landmarks.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt has defended the project, emphasizing that no taxpayer funds are being used for the construction. The administration has characterized the ballroom as a necessary upgrade that will benefit future presidents and visitors to what officials call “the People’s House.”
Architectural plans for the complex extend beyond the ballroom itself. The design includes a multi-level colonnade, additional bedrooms and offices, and other auxiliary spaces that will significantly expand the White House footprint. The ballroom will be built on the site where the former East Wing once stood.
Trump has indicated the project should reach completion by summer 2028, though other timelines have suggested a 2029 finish date. The extended construction schedule means the ballroom may not be fully operational until near or after the conclusion of Trump’s current presidential term.
The December 20 remarks by Watters came during his appearance at the AmericaFest gathering, an annual conservative conference that draws thousands of attendees. The Fox News personality’s anecdote about viewing the ballroom renditions appeared designed to entertain the friendly audience, which responded with applause and laughter to his recounting of Trump’s self-described monument.
Critics have long suggested that Trump’s extensive branding efforts and naming initiatives reflect an unusual preoccupation with legacy and self-commemoration. The ballroom project, combined with other recent actions such as the Kennedy Center renaming attempt, has reinforced those characterizations among political observers.
The legal dispute over the ballroom construction continues despite the favorable court ruling. The judge handling the case has required Trump’s team to meet with the National Capital Planning Commission and the Commission of Fine Arts to review the project plans. A preliminary injunction hearing has been scheduled for January.
The controversy surrounding the ballroom represents the latest chapter in Trump’s long history of placing his name on buildings and properties. His real estate portfolio includes numerous towers, hotels, and golf courses bearing the Trump brand, though the White House project marks his most prominent government-related naming initiative to date.
As construction continues through the winter months, the ballroom project remains a focal point for both Trump’s supporters, who view it as a grand improvement to the presidential residence, and his critics, who see it as an expensive vanity project funded by corporations seeking favorable treatment from the administration.