White House Demolishes East Wing for $300M Ballroom Construction

President Donald Trump has overseen the demolition of the White House's East Wing, originally built in 1942, as part of a $300 million project to construct a new, massive ballroom. Despite initial claims that the ballroom addition would not affect the East Wing, the entire structure has been removed, with satellite images confirming the extensive demolition and ongoing construction. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the project, acknowledging the expanded scope and urging public trust in the process, emphasizing transparency. The demolition has sparked criticism from historical societies and political figures, with questions raised about the lack of approval from the National Capital Planning Commission. Trump stated that the decision came after extensive study with top architects. The East Wing traditionally housed the First Lady’s offices, making its removal a significant alteration to the historic building.