Which NC companies are donating to the White House ballroom fund?
Happy Monday! It’s Danielle Battaglia with the latest edition of Under the Dome, focused on the actions of the Trump administration.
By now I’m sure you’ve heard that President Donald Trump chose to tear down the East Wing of the White House to build a 90,000-square-foot ballroom.
What you may not have heard about yet are the North Carolina companies that donated money for the $300 million ballroom to be built.
The White House released a list of 37 donors who made the ballroom possible, and two companies based in North Carolina are included: Reynolds American of Winston-Salem and Tether America, a Charlotte-based subsidiary of a global cryptocurrency company.
Altria Group Inc., one of Reynold’s competitors in the tobacco industry, also donated.
Tether America is led by Bo Hines, a former candidate for Congress who did a brief stint as Trump’s crypto czar this year.
Neither company responded to a request for comment by McClatchy on their decision to donate and why they believe a ballroom is needed.
But my conversations with people outside of Washington quickly deviate to that latter question and what history was lost in the demolition of the East Wing.
The East Wing was built in 1902 during President Theodore Roosevelt’s tenure and expanded in 1942. Those who’ve attended large gatherings at the White House and tourists are brought through the East Wing entrance.
It’s been home to the Family Theatre, the Social Office, the Garden Room and the First Lady’s Office.
Every Christmas photographs are released of the Marine Corps band greeting guests at the East Wing entrance before they make their way down a long, beautifully decorated hallway toward the main residence.
To ensure you know what I’m talking about, this is the hallway where First Lady Melania Trump was (I think unfairly) criticized for having spooky trees one Christmas.
The State Dining Room can hold 140 people for dinner or 1,000 people for hors d'oeuvres. It gets crowded, but there’s something extraordinary about walking around a building with that much history.
The Washington Post’s editorial board defended the ballroom project, criticizing larger events held in plastic tents with port-a-potties used by VIPs.
I haven’t covered those plastic tent events yet, though I’ve been to many others, both inside the White House and on the lawn.
But from conversations I’m having, some of Trump’s supporters didn’t like the president going back on his initial promise that he would not touch or interfere with the existing building.
When the news broke the story that the East Wing was being demolished, it caught people by surprise.
Other stories we worked on:
- Raleigh climate activist sentenced after vandalism at National Gallery of Art
- 1.4 million in NC on track to lose SNAP in November amid shutdown
- Monroe mayor with big social media following won’t seek 2nd term, teases ‘big news’
- 1.4 million in NC on track to lose SNAP in November amid shutdown
- SNAP delays could strain NC food banks. What you should (+ shouldn’t) donate
- These NC restaurants are offering free meals during shutdown, SNAP cuts
- As shutdown stalls food stamps, Triangle families are scrambling for help
That’s it for now. Be kind to each other. And check back tomorrow for the Under the Dome podcast.
Also, if the government shutdown is having an impact on your or your family, we want to know about it. Tell us about it at this link.
If you have any feedback or tips for this edition of the newsletter feel free to reach out to me directly at dbattaglia@mcclatchydc.com.
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This story was originally published November 3, 2025 at 5:00 AM with the headline "Which NC companies are donating to the White House ballroom fund?."
