Swalwell Urges Democrats to Pledge Demolition of Trump Ballroom

Rep. Eric Swalwell demanded that any Democrat seeking the 2028 presidential nomination pledge to demolish President Donald Trump's White House ballroom, calling it a "monument to corruption" and suggesting it be renamed the Barack Obama Ballroom. His social-media posts prompted swift backlash and mockery from Republican figures including Sen. Ted Cruz, Sen. Mike Lee, Lara Trump and advisers such as Jason Miller, and were labeled "reckless" by commentators including Jonathan Turley. The project is reported as a roughly 90,000-square-foot, privately funded East Wing replacement to create the White House's first dedicated ballroom, estimated to cost about $250–350 million and to host several hundred to about 1,000 guests. White House press officials and some former staffers defended the renovation as a needed modern facility to host major events without tents, and a Washington Post editorial said future presidents would welcome the space. The clash has become a partisan flashpoint, with Democrats criticizing the project as symbolic of Trump while conservatives use Swalwell's comments to question Democratic priorities and tone. The debate highlights broader tensions over presidential renovations, private funding of public residences, and campaign messaging ahead of 2028.