NEW: Trump planning an ‘Upper West Wing’ to be added to the White House

Trump told The New York Times on Wednesday that the project remains in the design phase and would only move forward if he approves the final plans. No construction timeline has been announced, and officials say nothing has been finalized.

The proposed addition would place a new floor above the colonnade that links the West Wing to the main White House residence. Trump said the extra space could be used for offices for West Wing staff or potentially reserved for “first ladies’ offices for future first ladies.” The White House has not formally announced the project.

Trump’s comments come as major renovations to the White House complex are already underway. The administration is moving forward with a new White House ballroom to replace the East Wing, a project that has drawn public attention due to its scale and cost. Updated plans for the ballroom were presented Thursday during a meeting of the National Capital Planning Commission. The project is being funded with donations, not taxpayer funds.

During that meeting, architect Shalom Baranes, who is overseeing the ballroom, said officials have discussed the possibility of a one-story addition to the West Wing after the East Wing renovations are completed. Baranes said the idea is meant to restore architectural balance to the historic structure.

“We’re considering the idea of a modest one-story addition to the West Wing,” Baranes said. “The reason to think about that is so that we would reinstate the symmetry around the central pavilion of the White House.” He added that the concept has not yet been fully examined.

Trump has hinted at further changes to the White House property for months. In August 2025, he was photographed walking on the West Wing roof, looking out over the Rose Garden and toward the future ballroom site, which began construction in September.