The White Home has paused public excursions amid development of the ballroom within the advanced. Plans for the ballroom, which is able to start development in September, have been announced on July 31.
“New tour bookings have been paused proactively whereas a collaborative group of White Home, U.S. Secret Service, Nationwide Park Service and Govt Residence employees work to find out the easiest way to make sure public entry to the White Home as this venture begins and in the course of development,” Nicholas Clemens, communications director for first girl Melania Trump, informed Fox Information Digital, which first reported the pause on Aug. 7.
“There have been zero tour cancellations as a result of addition of the State Ballroom.”
A White Home official confirmed to The Epoch Occasions that the excursions are on pause whereas discussions are ongoing.
White Home excursions resumed in February following the presidential transition.
“For 150 years, presidents, administrations, and White Home employees have longed for a big occasion area on the White Home advanced that may maintain considerably extra visitors than at present allowed,” mentioned White Home press secretary Karoline Leavitt throughout a press briefing.
“President [Donald] Trump has expressed his dedication to fixing this drawback on behalf of future administrations and the American folks.”
No taxpayer funds will go towards the ballroom. As an alternative, it is going to be funded by Trump and different non-public donors.
The ballroom will have the ability to match 650 folks in an area that may embody 90,000 sq. ft. At the moment, solely 200 folks might be seated within the East Room, the place many social occasions on the White Home are held.
The East Wing, the place the ballroom will likely be positioned, additionally homes the primary girl’s workplace.
“In latest weeks, President Trump has held a number of conferences with members of the White Home employees, the Nationwide Park Service, the White Home Navy Workplace, and america Secret Service to debate design options and planning,” Leavitt mentioned.
Whereas the ballroom is not going to be linked to the White Home itself, “its theme and architectural heritage will likely be nearly similar,” Leavitt mentioned.
“President Trump is a builder at coronary heart and has a unprecedented eye for element,” White Home Chief of Employees Susie Wiles mentioned in a statement.
“The president and the Trump White Home are absolutely dedicated to working with the suitable organizations to protect the particular historical past of the White Home whereas constructing an exquisite ballroom that may be loved by future administrations and generations of People to come back within the White Home.”
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