Bei Jing Ri Bao Ke Hu Duan·2025-10-25 15:48Core Points - The White House announced the construction of a new banquet hall with a planned area of 90,000 square feet (approximately 8,361 square meters) and a total estimated cost of around $300 million, which is an increase from the previous government estimate of $200 million [1][3] - The funding for the project will come from President Trump and private donors, with no taxpayer money being used [3] - Notable donors include major companies such as Apple, Amazon, Lockheed Martin, Microsoft, Google, and cryptocurrency platforms like Coinbase and Gemini, along with various individuals and organizations [3][5] Funding and Donors - The list of donors includes prominent companies and individuals, such as Apple, Amazon, Lockheed Martin, Microsoft, Google, Coinbase, Comcast, Meta, and the Winklevoss twins from Gemini [3] - Other significant contributors include U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick and his family, the Adelson family from Las Vegas Sands, and over 30 other institutions and individuals like Altria Group, Booz Allen Hamilton, Caterpillar, Hard Rock International, HP, and Micron Technology [3] Project Justification - The White House defended the project against criticism, stating that the new banquet hall is "bold and necessary," and highlighted that U.S. presidents have been renovating and modernizing the White House for over a century to meet contemporary needs [5]