“They’re not putting in a Dave & Buster’s kind of situation here, so I think upgrading some of these facilities seems pretty normal, overall.”
Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman backed President Trump’s $200 million White House ballroom plan — agreeing the historic residence is due for an upgrade that comes at no cost to taxpayers.
“I think everything that I’ve seen, the plans are going to be done in a tasteful and historical kind of a way,” the Democrat told Fox News Digital Saturday.
“They’re not putting in a Dave & Buster’s kind of situation here, so I think upgrading some of these facilities seems pretty normal, overall. I don’t have a strong opinion on it but it’s not a point where I’m going to freak out or make some kind of weird demanding’s or have a hearing on it.”
The 90,000-square-foot “White House State Ballroom,” as it’s being officially called, will be situated in the East Wing and be able to fit 650 people when construction is completed.
The project marks the first White House structural change since the Truman Balcony was added in 1948 — and will be privately funded.
“I think if it saves the American taxpayers much more too, I think that’s fine,” Fetterman added, breaking from party critics who slammed the project as a “gigantic boondoggle.”
“Regardless, it’s an investment on the White House and it probably won’t even be close to finished by the time he even leaves the office.”
Trump previously pledged to complete the ballroom quickly and on schedule, with White House official pressing the venue will be finished “long before the end” of the president’s second term.
The Republican said the project is needed because the East Room, the White House’s largest event space seating 200, cannot accommodate the growing number of guests at major events.
Overflow events currently require a tent be erected outside.
“You entertain the president of China, the president of any place, and you have big crowds,” Trump said in July when he announced his latest change to the White House.
“They’ve always had to get a tent and… when it rains, it’s a disaster. People schlepping down to that tent — it’s not a pretty sight.”
The ballroom is among several changes Trump has made to the White House, including installing massive flagpoles on the north and south lawns and replacing the Rose Garden’s grass with stone.
Construction on the event space is set to star in September.
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