The East Wing is now gone. The building that once housed first ladies, staff offices and decades of tradition has been reduced to rubble to make room for a $300 million ballroom, according to the AP.
The East Wing had long been a familiar part of the White House campus, a space where first ladies planned events, hosted guests and worked on national initiatives. Now the site is cleared, and crews are moving ahead with the early stages of Trump’s construction plans.
Trump defended the decision, saying the building had to be removed. He claimed keeping it would have “hurt a very, very expensive, beautiful building” that he says past presidents wanted for years. He also insisted “me and some friends of mine” will pay for the ballroom, though he did not name anyone or provide proof of private funding.
The planned ballroom will be nearly twice the size of the White House itself. Trump says it will host major events and impress world leaders, calling it a project that will “make history.”
Stay up-to-date with the latest news!
Subscribe and start recieving our daily emails.
However, the demolition started before all federal approvals were in place. Agencies responsible for overseeing construction on government property had not signed off, but work moved forward anyway.
Preservation groups pushed back, urging the administration to delay the demolition until the project could be reviewed publicly. They argued that the East Wing was part of America’s story and should not be torn down without full transparency. Their objections were ignored.
For many Americans, the anger goes deeper than architecture. The East Wing was not just office space. It was where first ladies developed programs that shaped households, schools and cultural life across the country. Its removal feels personal to those who viewed it as a symbol of service and history.
While construction continues, White House staff will be relocated. Trump maintains the project will cost taxpayers nothing and continues to promise that the final result will be worth it.
Featured image via X screengrab
