The East Wing of the White House will be completely demolished to make way for the ballroom that Trump wants
Demolition of part of the East Wing of the White House, prior to the construction of a ballroom. Washington, October 22, 2025. PHOTO: Jacquelyn Martin / AP / Profimedia
The east wing of the White House building will be completely demolished as part of the process of building a new ballroom proposed by President Donald Trump, a White House official said on Wednesday, according to Reuters.
“We can confirm that the entire east wing will be upgraded and renovated to support, I suspect, the ballroom project,” the official said.
On Monday, workers began demolishing the section of the White House that houses the offices of the US First Lady and other staff members. The quoted official said the demolition process would likely be completed in two weeks.
The move contradicts Trump's promise earlier this year that the ballroom project, which he has wanted to build for some time, would not affect the existing structure of the East Wing.
The demolition of part of the historic building in the United States has sparked criticism and sadness among Trump's detractors, including many Democrats. The White House dismissed the criticism as “manufactured outrage.”
The White House announced Tuesday that it will submit plans for the ballroom's construction to the National Capital Planning Commission, which oversees federal construction in Washington and neighboring states, for review, even as demolition has already begun.
