Advisory: “Stop Construction! Stop Corruption!” Protest Against Trump’s Corporate-Funded White House Ballroom Outside the Project’s First Public Hearing
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Outside the National Capital Planning Commission this Thursday, January 8, (from 12 pm to 12:45 pm ET) Public Citizen and local activists in Washington D.C. will gather to protest ahead of the first public hearing (starting at 1 pm) for Donald Trump’s new White House ballroom, funded by dozens of the world’s largest tech, tobacco, crypto, and weapons manufacturing companies.
Protestors are calling on the National Capital Planning Commission to stop the construction of the $400 million ballroom, a pet project of Trump’s after he abruptly demolished the White House East Wing in October. In November, Public Citizen issued a report highlighting more than two dozen corporate donors and over a dozen billionaires, wealthy individuals, and foundations who are backing the ballroom project, exposing a myriad of conflicts of interest concerns about pay-to-play government contracts and dropped enforcement actions.
While families struggled with affordability of housing, groceries and medications, Trump spent the holiday season shopping for expensive marble for the White House ballroom, according to news reports. Reports also detail that the project budget increased from $300 million to $400 million. The American people should not be paying for this vanity project – and it’s worse, still, if the project is funded by corporations and super-rich people with business before the government.
WHO: Public Citizen and local activists
WHAT: “Stop Construction! Stop Corruption!” Protest Against Trump’s White House Ballroom
WHERE: On the sidewalk outside the offices of the National Capital Planning Commission at 401 9th St NW, Washington, DC 20004.
WHEN: Thursday, January 8, 2026 12:00 pm to 12:45 pm ET (Public hearing to start at 1 pm ET)