Donald Trump Jr. Allegedly Planning White House Wedding With Bettina Anderson in New $400M Ballroom

Donald Trump Jr., the president's eldest son, is reportedly planning to marry fiancée Bettina Anderson inside the White House itself and not just anywhere within those storied walls, but inside a brand-new $400 million (£315 million) ballroom that has been rising from the rubble of the demolished East Wing.

The engagement, announced by President Donald Trump at a glittering Mar-a-Lago gathering on 15 December, caught even the most connected Palm Beach insiders off guard. Anderson, 39, stood beside her 47-year-old fiancé in a stunning strapless crimson gown, a striking diamond ring catching the light as whispers rippled through the room.

Insiders close to the Trump family say the couple are exploring options that would place their wedding at the symbolic heart of American power, blending personal celebration with presidential spectacle. This ambitious architectural undertaking—frequently described by the President as a 'gift to the nation'—has recently drawn sharp scrutiny from federal judges and historic preservationists alike, turning a personal family celebration into a focal point of national debate.

'Everyone knew something historic was happening,' one insider confided, capturing the intensity of anticipation that had swirled through the social establishment since the engagement became official knowledge.

The $400 Million Ballroom: Coincidence or Calculated Announcement?

President Trump's construction of a sprawling 90,000-square-foot ballroom at the White House has long captivated observers. What initially appeared to be an audacious architectural ambition—first announced in July 2025 at an estimated cost of $200 million—may now take on considerably more personal significance for the Trump family. The project's scope has expanded dramatically.

By October 2025, plans had been revised to accommodate 900 guests rather than the original 650, and by December, the figure had risen to nearly 1,000. The cost estimate followed a similar trajectory, eventually reaching $400 million by late 2025.

The ballroom's footprint is truly remarkable. Spanning approximately 22,000 square feet within the broader 90,000-square-foot East Wing reconstruction, it will feature two stories, entry halls, a dedicated kitchen, an office for the First Lady, and even a private movie theatre.

Architect Shalom Baranes has described the structure as creating a more harmonious visual balance, aligning the new ballroom with the existing West Wing through what Trump has characterised as a 'glass bridge' connecting it to the Executive Residence.

Demolition of the existing East Wing commenced in October 2025, with White House officials later explaining that wholesale reconstruction proved more cost-effective than renovation, citing significant structural deficiencies in the original building.

Project Attracts Considerable Controversy

The National Trust for Historic Preservation filed a lawsuit in December 2024 seeking to halt construction, arguing that the White House failed to conduct adequate environmental assessments, secure congressional authorisation, or submit plans for proper review before demolition began.

The Trump administration has countered by claiming that portions of the project involve classified national security considerations that cannot be disclosed to the public.

Yet another detail warrants examination: the financing method. Trump has insisted—with emphasis—that the project represents 'a GIFT (ZERO taxpayer funding!)' funded entirely by private donations. A consortium led by Clark Construction was awarded the initial $200 million contract in August 2025, and by the end of October, the White House announced that $350 million had been raised from corporate donors and private citizens.

Whether his son's engagement and the wedding plans influenced the scope and timeline of the ballroom remains a matter of speculation among Washington insiders.

The Timeline of a Fairy Tale

The Trump Jr.-Anderson relationship has unfolded rather like a modern-day romance, marked by carefully orchestrated public appearances. The couple first sparked dating rumours in July 2024, when Anderson was photographed seated behind Trump Jr. and his then-fiancée, Kimberly Guilfoyle, at the Republican National Convention. By September 2024, the Daily Mail captured photographs of the pair sharing a kiss and enjoying brunch at the Honour Bar in Palm Beach, mere miles from Mar-a-Lago.​

Anderson spent New Year's Eve 2024 at Mar-a-Lago, attending Trump family celebrations as a guest of Trump Jr. Following the presidential inauguration in January 2025, the couple made their official public debut as an item, attending inaugural events at Trump Golf Club Washington, D.C., on 18 January and dancing together to 'YMCA' at an inaugural ball the following evening. They were subsequently spotted together at the Super Bowl in February 2025 in New Orleans, where President Trump made history as the first sitting president to attend.

By March 2025, their relationship appeared increasingly serious. At Trump's address to a joint session of Congress, they were photographed showing clear affection whilst seated in the House chamber. That same month, they walked the red carpet together at a gala benefiting amfAR's AIDS research and global HIV prevention initiatives, where they mingled with Martha Stewart, Tommy Hilfiger, and Ricky Martin.​

Planning the Grandest Celebration

The president, according to sources familiar with his thinking, is genuinely thrilled about his son's forthcoming nuptials. 'He loves a party,' one confidant explained, suggesting that the wedding could become something far grander than a standard state occasion. Another insider was more effusive in their predictions: 'This is going to be huge—there's going to be more glitz than any inauguration ball.'​

Trump Jr. was previously married to Vanessa Trump, the mother of his five children, before their divorce in 2018. He subsequently entered into a six-year relationship with Kimberly Guilfoyle, the former television personality and conservative commentator who now serves as US Ambassador to Greece. That relationship concluded in late 2024, though neither party issued an official public statement regarding the separation.

No official wedding date has been announced, though sources suggest the timing hinges entirely on presidential preference. 'It's all about when the president wants it,' confirmed a Mar-a-Lago insider, suggesting that the wedding's calendar placement will be dictated by the administration's broader schedule rather than conventional wedding-planning logic. The guest list is expected to read like a who's who of political and social élite, with Palm Beach glamour infusing proceedings that will likely captivate Washington's establishment.

A White House wedding would blur the line between private family life and state pageantry in a way rarely seen in modern times. Whether or not the ceremony ultimately takes place there, the mere possibility has turned a personal engagement into a national talking point, with the new ballroom now symbolising both architectural ambition and political theatre.​