White House East Wing Demolished for Trump Ballroom Project Amid Historic Preservation Concerns

President Donald Trump's administration is demolishing the entire East Wing of the White House to make way for a new $200-$300 million ballroom, a project larger than initially disclosed. Trump justified the demolition by describing the East Wing as a small, heavily altered, and less significant structure, asserting the new ballroom will be "probably the finest ever built" and funded entirely by him and private donors. The project has sparked widespread controversy and criticism from preservationists, Democrats, and former officials, who argue the changes could overwhelm the historic White House design and were undertaken without full regulatory approvals. Despite the backlash and concerns about transparency, the White House insists the construction is necessary and is working with the military to ensure quality. The National Trust for Historic Preservation and other watchdogs have called for a halt to the demolition until proper review and public input occur. Trump’s explanations emphasize the removal of an eyesore to protect the main building’s appearance, though the extent of demolition contradicts earlier claims that the ballroom wouldn’t impact the historic structure.