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Demolition crews have begun tearing down the historic East Wing of the White House to make way for President Donald Trump’s proposed $300 million ballroom, igniting public outrage and political criticism. The project, which Trump initially promised would not interfere with existing structures, has now resulted in the complete dismantling of the East Wing—home to offices for the first lady and her staff.
“In order to do it properly, we had to take down the existing structure,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office, defending the controversial move. The White House confirmed that the demolition and modernization process would take about two weeks to accommodate the new ballroom project.
The drastic renovation marks the most significant alteration to the White House in decades, drawing condemnation from preservationists and lawmakers. Senator Angus King of Maine called the demolition “a desecration of the White House and a betrayal of America’s heritage.” The National Trust for Historic Preservation has urged the administration to pause demolition until the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC) completes its review.
Despite the backlash, Trump insisted the project was transparent, citing media coverage and photos of the ballroom model displayed in the Oval Office. The ballroom, spanning 90,000 square feet—significantly larger than the 55,000-square-foot White House—will be privately funded by Trump and unnamed donors.
NCPC chairman Will Scharf, also a White House staff secretary, said he would oversee the project review objectively, promising public hearings and transparency during the approval process, expected to take about three months.
As bulldozers continue their work, critics argue that the loss of the East Wing represents an irreversible blow to U.S. history. “It feels like a memorial site now,” said Maryland resident Sarah Kavanagh, expressing sorrow over the destruction of one of America’s most symbolic buildings.
