Did Obama spend $300 million to build a basketball court at the White House? – Sandra Rose

In October 2025, the Trump administration began a massive demolition project on the White House’s East Wing to make way for President Trump’s new ballroom with gilded columns and gold leaf ceilings.

The $300 million cost for the renovation was donated by some of America’s billionaires. Construction on the golden ballroom is expected to be completed by 2028.

President Trump’s supporters defended his plans for a new golden ballroom. They argued that former President Barack Obama tore up the White House lawn to build a $375 million basketball court.

Former CNN news anchor Suzanne Malveaux (Karine Jean-Pierre’s ex) gushed over construction of Obama’s basketball court.

The cost of Obama’s basketball court is in dispute. Fox News said it cost U.S. taxpayers $375 million. But Obama’s supporters say he paid for the basketball court out of his own pocket.

The truth lies somewhere in between.

Every liberal media outlet in America has pitched a fit over Trump’s East Wing demolition.

One would think the White House has never been renovated before.

Historians documented previous White House renovations that were a lot more extensive than Trump’s ballroom.

In 1934, President Franklin D. Roosevelt had the West Wing torn down to expand the space from 15,000 square feet to over 40,000 sq. ft. The massive project cost taxpayers over $500,000 – an exorbitant amount in those days.

The Oval Office was relocated to a corner of the newly rebuilt West Wing overlooking the Rose Garden in the 1930’s.

In 1942, President Roosevelt added the East Wing and constructed an underground bomb shelter. He faced very little push back from the media for such an extensive reconstruction of the people’s house.

In fact, every U.S. president has made changes to the White House with the news media’s blessing.