Demolition Begins at White House East Wing for New Trump Ballroom

Tue Oct 21 2025 18:52:22 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

The East Wing of the White House is undergoing significant changes as construction starts for a new ballroom, sparking discussions on historical preservation and modern updates.

The White House has commenced the demolition of parts of its East Wing to make way for a new ballroom addition, as announced by President Trump. Construction includes the deconstruction of entryways, and while the president assures the project respects the historical integrity of the building, it has raised concerns among preservationists about the impact on the iconic structure. The ballroom aims to host grand events, fulfilling a longstanding desire among U.S. presidents, with funding reportedly provided by private donors.

Parts of the White House's East Wing have been demolished, as construction begins on US President Donald Trump's new ballroom. Construction crews on Monday tore down massive chunks of a covered entryway and windows in the East Wing, which Trump said is being fully modernised.

The president previously said that his $250 million (£186m) White House ballroom addition would be near the existing structure but would not change it. It won't interfere with the current building. It won't be. It'll be near it but not touching it - and pays total respect to the existing building, which I'm the biggest fan of, Trump said in July. It's my favourite. It's my favourite place. I love it.

Trump announced the construction in a social media post, saying ground has been broken on the much-needed ballroom space. For more than 150 years, every President has dreamt about having a Ballroom at the White House to accommodate people for grand parties, State Visits, etc, he wrote.

He said the project is being privately funded by many generous Patriots. Their identities are unclear still as the White House has not released any names of who might be funding it. The White House has served as the historic home of the US president for two centuries. The East Wing was constructed in 1902 and was last modified in 1942.

Though the White House and its adjoining parks are administered by the National Park Service (NPS), the president generally has broad powers to make renovations. Robert K Sutton, former chief historian of the NPS, told the BBC that there is always public concern when the White House goes under construction. There has been controversy with anything going on related to the White House pretty much since it was built, he said.

The new White House renovation project has also been criticised by the Society of Architectural Historians, an international non-profit group that studies the preservation of historic buildings worldwide. In a statement last week, the group said it expresses great concern over the proposed ballroom additions, which will be the first major change to its exterior appearance in the last 83 years.

But Trump is certainly not the first president to leave his mark on the building. Former President Barack Obama had the tennis court converted to host basketball games, demonstrating the evolving nature of the White House to suit the needs of its occupants.