White House demolishes East Wing wall for Trump’s ballroom


The White House has started demolishing part of the East Wing to make room for President Trump’s planned massive new ballroom even though officials previously promised nothing would be “torn down” for the $250 million vanity project.

Federal workers were warned not to share photos of heavy construction equipment that tore into the facade of the historic wing, leaving shattered windows, wiring and other debris piled on the ground next to the century-old building.

Trump proudly proclaimed the kickoff of the ballroom construction project on his social media site and in person at a ceremony honoring college baseball championship teams.

People watch as work crews demolish the facade of the East Wing of the White House on Monday in Washington, DC. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

The White House moved ahead with the massive construction project despite not receiving approval from the National Capital Planning Commission, which is supposed to approve construction work and major renovations to government buildings in the Washington, D.C. area.

The 90,000-square-foot glass windowed ballroom will house up to 1,000 guests and is expected to be bigger than the entire rest of the White House.

Trump says it’s needed because there is no White House space to accommodate crowds bigger than 200. State dinners and other large officials functions now must be held in tents outside.

The demolition comes despite Trump’s claim in July that the ballroom construction would not “touch” the “existing building” of the White House.

“Nothing will be torn down,” White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said.

The East Wing houses several offices, including those of the first lady. It was built in 1902 and and has been renovated over the years, with a second story added in 1942.

The offices are being temporarily relocated during the construction, which is the biggest construction project at the White House since 1948.

First Lady Melania Trump mostly lives at the couple’s home in Manhattan, although she uses the offices when she is in Washington, D.C.

WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 20: The facade of the East Wing of the White House is demolished by work crews on October 20, 2025 in Washington, DC. The demolition is part of U.S. President Donald Trump's plan to build a ballroom reportedly costing $250 million on the eastern side of the White House. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
The facade of the East Wing of the White House is demolished by work crews on Monday in Washington, DC. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

Trump hosted a dinner last week for some of the wealthy executives who are bankrolling the project, which Trump says will not cost the public anything.

The White House has promised to disclose information on who has contributed money to build the ballroom, but has not yet released any details.

The ballroom is perhaps the most imposing of the ways that Trump, a lifelong real estate developer, is putting his stamp on the White House and even Washington, D.C. itself.

Trump ordered the Rose Garden paved over to create a patio and installed extensive gold trimming in the Oval Office.  He recently unveiled a mock-up of a ceremonial arch others have dubbed the Arc de Trump that would rise across the Potomac River from the Lincoln Memorial.



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