The White House official who manages all aspects of diplomatic activities says President Trump’s ballroom is a must for the United States to put its best foot forward in hosting foreign leaders and large-scale events.
Ambassador Monica Crowley, the 35th chief of protocol of the United States, said in an interview for “The Sitdown with Alex Swoyer” podcast that the White House does not have adequate space to host more than 150 people for an occasion, echoing Mr. Trump’s concerns.
“Every modern president has complained about the fact that the only two main rooms [in the White House] where you can do larger-scale events is the East Room and the State Dining Room, and while we do plenty of events there, they can really only accommodate a maximum of 140 people,” Ms. Crowley said.
She noted that the guest list for April’s state dinner for Britain’s King Charles III and Queen Camilla had to be severely narrowed because of a lack of space.
“Presidents who want to do larger-scale events have to put up a tent in the backyard,” Ms. Crowley said. “Women walking in their heels. It’s raining on you, you’re stuck in the mud. It’s hot, you’re trying to bring in air conditioning. The United States of America should not have to conduct itself that way.”
Mr. Trump has demolished the East Wing of the White House to construct a 90,000-square-foot ballroom that can accommodate nearly 1,000 people. The $400 million cost of the ballroom, which will be almost twice as large as the executive mansion, is to be covered by private donations.
A federal judge last week halted construction on the ballroom, saying Congress must approve the renovation.
White House officials have said the ballroom will include a six-story-deep bunker, a military hospital, a command center, a drone port and other security features to withstand a direct attack. Congressional Republicans have called for spending $1 billion on the ballroom’s security enhancements.
’A strong American president’
Ms. Crowley sat down for an interview at the historic Blair House, the president’s guest mansion that stands across Pennsylvania Avenue from the White House, where she welcomes visiting dignitaries. She said Mr. Trump has garnered appreciation across the globe for being a brutally honest and direct leader.
“I’m around these world leaders all the time,” she said. “They all deeply appreciate a strong American president. They may profoundly disagree with him and his policies, but they appreciate having him in office.”
“George Washington was known as the father of our country. The presidency has always been a paternal, symbolic role, going all the way back to Washington, ’I cannot tell a lie.’ Abraham Lincoln — huge reputation for being extremely honest, ’Honest Abe,’ I think President Trump is in that category as among the most honest presidents we’ve ever had,” she said.
In her Senate-confirmed role as chief of protocol, Ms. Crowley advises the president on diplomatic precedents and manages the accreditation of diplomats, presidential travel and ceremonies such as treaty signings.
She has worked as a political commentator and journalist, including a stint as the opinion editor at The Washington Times, and served as foreign policy research assistant for former President Richard M. Nixon from 1990 until his death in 1994.
Ms. Crowley accompanied Nixon on his seventh trip to China (her first) in 1993. She noted a Beijing highway’s four lanes — one for Chinese Communist Party officials, another for private cars that was always empty, one for bicycles and another for donkeys and carts, both of which were full.
About 25 years later, she returned to China as a Treasury Department spokesperson in the first Trump administration and was amazed by how the country had changed.
“I was blown away,” she said. “I could not believe the evolution of China.”
“Every American who has the resources to go to China must go to see what we are up against because in the space of one generation, they went from the donkeys and the carts to becoming an industrial and nuclear superpower. They are serious business,” she said.
Planning and execution
Ms. Crowley said her goal as chief of protocol is to create a robust environment for productive talks. But diplomatic necessities sometimes arise with little notice, as she can attest.
She said she was traveling with Mr. Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio on a daylong trip to Alaska to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in August 2025 when she learned she had to arrange a meeting for eight world leaders — within 36 hours.
It was 1 or 2 a.m. as they were flying back to Washington that Mr. Rubio notified her that the world leaders, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, would be at the White House in less than two days. She quickly planned and executed the event to precision.
Ms. Crowley has also taken on a key role in planning Freedom 250 events to celebrate the nation’s 250th birthday.
“We’ve got these incredible programs all set up,” including a national prayer event last month to restore America, she said, adding that it is necessary to have God and prayer as the centerpiece for celebration.
Another major event will be the UFC fight on June 14, which is Flag Day and Mr. Trump’s birthday.
And on June 25 through July 10, the Great American State Fair will be held on the National Mall, where all 50 states and five territories will erect tents featuring food, textiles and games. The Texas tent is expected to have a rodeo, Ms. Crowley said.
On July 4, there will be an International Naval Review Parade with tall ships dating back to the 17th century in New York City. Then the Salute to America event in Washington will include performances and a speech from Mr. Trump.
There will also be more than 860,000 fireworks.
“The biggest fireworks display in the history of the world,” Ms. Crowley said. “It’s going to be a show of shows.”
