President Trump started his Friday stone shopping for the White House ballroom — with pink and white options under consideration for the interior and black onyx favored for bathrooms, The Post has learned.
“He’s very particular. He has certain marbles [and] material that he’s always interested in,” Michael Coiro, CEO of Arc Stone and Tile, said shortly after hosting Trump at his Lake Worth Beach, Fla., business.
Trump used Coiro’s firm two decades ago to source Italian marble for nearby Mar-a-Lago’s ornate ballroom, where one of the first events was the future president’s wedding to Melania Trump in 2005.
People stand outside Arc Stone & Tile after Trump went inside to shop. AP
“I’ve known him before he was president, and I hardly expected that he would have time — between everything he’s got to do — to come look at marble personally,” Coiro told The Post.
“I have a lot of gratitude for him coming to my place and giving me the time and support that he has over the years.”
Coiro said that the renovator-in-chief, who tore down the East Wing to make room for the ballroom, generally prefers a pinkish marble — using it in Trump Tower in New York and extensively at Mar-a-Lago.
“He was talking about doing white marble in the White House — so we’ll see,” said Coiro, who referred to the pink marble as Trump’s “signature stone” for projects.
Trump’s motorcade in Lake Worth, Florida, as he shops for marble and onyx. REUTERS
Coiro said Trump’s team will provide measurements and final selections in the coming weeks before trucking the stone north to Washington.
“He doesn’t talk to me any different than before he was president, which is amazing to me,” the business owner said.
“He treats me the same and is very gracious. He’s very down to earth.”
Trump said the sprawling 90,000 square-foot White House ballroom will be paid for by private donations, with his latest cost estimate at $400 million — up from the initial $250 million projection.
Trump is shopping for stone for the new White House ballroom. AP
“President Trump is purchasing marble and onyx, at his own expense, for the White House ballroom,” a White House official said.
Coiro’s Lake Worth Beach business hasn’t previously supplied the White House — where Trump also recently used marble to redo the ground-floor Palm Room and upstairs Lincoln Bedroom bathroom.
But he’s expecting a major order to be finalized soon for the ballroom.
“What I’m always amazed at is that he has a presence of mind to pay attention to these details in the midst of all these geopolitical situations that are going on,” Coiro said.
“It’s really incredible, and he’s asking questions, and he’s fully engaged.”