Demolition of White House East Wing Initiated for New Ballroom

Fri Oct 24 2025 09:33:47 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

The East Wing of the White House has been demolished as part of President Donald Trump's initiative to build a lavish ballroom valued at $300 million. Despite concerns from preservationists, the project moves forward.

The entire East Wing of the White House has been turned into rubble, marking the end of its legacy as the site where numerous first ladies planned state dinners and promoted various causes. President Trump has stated that the demolition is essential for constructing a new ballroom, reportedly to be funded privately. However, preservationists have raised concerns about the lack of necessary approvals and public review processes before the demolition commenced.

WASHINGTON (RTW) — The East Wing of the White House, historically significant as the site for first ladies to create legacies of their own, has been completely demolished. This move is part of President Donald Trump's ambitious project to construct a new ballroom, valued at around $300 million, nearly double the size of the existing White House space.

Images show the two-story structure, once bustling with the activities of both first ladies and their staffs, reduced to rubble. Trump defended the decision, stating that maintaining the East Wing would have “hurt a very, very expensive, beautiful building” desired by many of his predecessors.

He emphasized that the funding for the ballroom will not involve taxpayer money, asserting that he and “some friends” will cover the costs, although the formal approval from relevant government agencies regarding construction on federal grounds remains outstanding.

Preservationists are urging the administration to halt the demolition until the plans for the extravagant 90,000-square-foot ballroom receive the necessary scrutiny and adhere to public review processes, which may raise concerns regarding the integrity and history associated with the East Wing.

As the construction progresses, the national conversation surrounding the future of the White House continues amidst voices of dissent and support, reflecting a contentious intersection of modernization and historical preservation.