President Donald Trump has confirmed construction of a substantial underground military facility beneath his planned White House ballroom, describing the nuclear-hardened complex as essential infrastructure for an era of heightened security threats.
The revelation came during an Air Force One briefing on Monday, where Mr Trump disclosed details of the fortified subterranean installation being built to replace the original Presidential Emergency Operations Centre constructed following the Pearl Harbor attack in the 1940s.
“The military is building a massive complex under the ballroom, and that’s under construction, and we’re doing very well,” the President stated, adding that the above-ground structure would feature “bullet-proof glass” and “drone-proof roofs, ceilings.”
The facility forms part of a controversial £400 million ballroom project funded privately by Mr Trump and donors, which has seen the White House East Wing demolished to accommodate a 90,000 square foot reception space—the largest structural modification to the Executive Mansion since the 1948 Truman Balcony addition.
Mr Trump characterised the ballroom itself as essentially “a shed” concealing the underground command centre, displaying illustrations of the planned structure which will match the White House’s height whilst exceeding the original building’s footprint.
“The glass on the windows is extremely thick – it’s high-grade bulletproof glass,” he explained, noting information about the bunker had emerged “because of a stupid lawsuit that was filed.”
Secret Service documents submitted to court last year warned that construction delays or halts would constitute a “national security concern,” though the President has proceeded without formal planning approval, drawing criticism as bulldozers began demolition work in October.
Mr Trump defended the expansion as addressing a 150-year requirement for adequate entertaining space, arguing the existing 200-person capacity room proves insufficient for hosting dignitaries “like President Xi of China.”
“We have very small rooms that are not big enough to handle the kind of capacity that you need,” he stated. “This is the same height as the White House – it’s an incredible fitting. I think it’ll be the finest ballroom of its kind anywhere in the world.”
The President acknowledged making the announcement aboard Air Force One because he was “so busy” managing other priorities. “I don’t have time to do this. I’m fighting wars and other things. But this is important because this is going to be with us for a long time,” he remarked.
Dramatic photographs from the demolition site have captured machinery tearing into the East Wing facade, with building components scattered across the grounds despite the absence of approved permits.
