President Donald Trump was reportedly spotted Friday personally shopping for marble and onyx in Florida as part of his ongoing effort to transform and upgrade the White House, underscoring his hands-on approach to a sweeping series of renovations he has championed over the past year.
Trump visited Arc Stone & Tile in Lake Worth, Florida, located in Palm Beach County and a short drive from his Mar-a-Lago resort. According to a White House official speaking to the press pool, the president is purchasing the marble and onyx for the planned White House ballroom entirely at his own expense. The official said the materials are intended specifically for the new ballroom project, which Trump has described as a major enhancement to the historic executive mansion.
The ballroom is part of a broader vision Trump has pursued since returning to office, focusing on making the White House more ornate and visually striking. Over the last year, the president has overseen multiple renovations, including significant changes to the Rose Garden and the Palm Room. Those spaces were redesigned to be more elaborate, reflecting Trump’s longstanding preference for classical design elements and luxury finishes.
Gold trim has also been added throughout the White House, most notably in the Oval Office, a move that has drawn attention as Trump puts his unmistakable aesthetic stamp on the building. The ballroom itself is expected to be one of the most ambitious projects undertaken at the White House in decades, with costs estimated to reach as high as $400 million. Administration officials have emphasized that Trump has taken a personal interest in nearly every detail of the project, from layout to materials.
Beyond the White House, Trump has also turned his attention to one of Washington’s most prominent cultural institutions. The president has led a major overhaul of the Kennedy Center, replacing board members with allies. The newly constituted board subsequently named Trump as its chair and voted to rename the venue the Donald J. Trump and the John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts.
The changes at the Kennedy Center have mirrored Trump’s approach to the White House renovations, with an emphasis on bold design choices and visible upgrades. Last month, Trump hinted that more changes could be coming to the performing arts center. In a post on Truth Social, he shared photos of marble armrests that he said could be installed at the venue, signaling his continued involvement in even the smallest design details.
“Unlike anything ever done or seen before!” Trump wrote in the post, echoing the language he often uses to describe projects he believes will leave a lasting mark.
Supporters have praised the president for personally funding aspects of the White House ballroom and for taking direct responsibility for revitalizing national landmarks. They argue the renovations reflect pride in American institutions and a desire to restore grandeur to historic spaces. Critics, meanwhile, have focused on the scale and style of the changes, though the administration has stressed that Trump’s personal spending offsets taxpayer costs for certain elements.
Friday’s visit to the Florida stone supplier highlighted Trump’s continued personal involvement in the project, reinforcing his image as a president who prefers to oversee major undertakings himself. As construction moves forward, the White House ballroom and related renovations are poised to become some of the most visible symbols of Trump’s second-term legacy.
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