President Donald Trump is currently demolishing the East Wing of the White House in one of the more shocking acts of his second term. Trump plans to build an enormous $250 million ballroom in its place, a structure that will dwarf the existing White House. But who’s paying for it? As it turns out, a bunch of private companies and individuals. And, presumably, they’ll now expect to get a lot more access to Trump.

Trump hasn’t bothered to ask Congress or anyone else about destroying the public building. And the White House hasn’t released a list of the companies that are contributing to this assault on American democracy. But Trump has hosted at least two dinners that seemed to be fundraising events for the ballroom. And reports have trickled out about which companies are complicit.

Trump

See Full Page