During a state dinner with Chinese President Xi Jinping, former President Donald Trump offered guests a rare behind-the-scenes look at the construction site for a new 90,000-square-foot golden ballroom in the White House’s East Wing. Trump described the site as “clean and sparkly” and noted that the ballroom, which will seat 650 people—compared to the 200 in the existing East Room—is expected to be completed in about a year. Trump estimated the project would cost around $400 million, with funding reportedly coming from himself and other donors. However, a contractor had previously estimated the cost at $600 million, with at least half potentially coming from taxpayer funds. The construction project has faced legal challenges, including a court case over whether Trump had the authority to tear down parts of the East Wing without approval from Congress. Recently, the Supreme Court ruled that the president could continue with the construction for now. The East Wing includes a historical bunker built in 1942, and the administration has mentioned plans to add bomb shelters, military facilities, and a medical center during the renovation. The invitation to tour the construction site raised some concerns, with observers questioning the security implications of showing Chinese officials a site that could be linked to military infrastructure. Before greeting Xi and his wife, Peng, Trump was photographed with First Lady Melania Trump, who had overseen preparations for the dinner. The event featured a menu with a “subtle Chinese influence,” including dishes like sesame-crusted sea bass and braised baby bok choy. Performances included military ensembles and a classically trained tenor, Christopher Macchio. Notable attendees at the dinner included Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and prominent tech leaders such as Elon Musk, Sam Altman, and Mark Zuckerberg. The event highlighted the intersection of high-level diplomacy, military infrastructure, and private funding in the context of White House renovations.