Tag: east wing

Trump-appointed arts panel approves his White House ballroom proposal

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The U.S. Commission of Fine Arts, a panel made up of President Donald Trump’s appointees, on Thursday approved his proposal to build a ballroom larger than the White House itself where the East Wing once stood.The meeting was supposed to be on the design, with a final vote expected at next month’s session. But the chairman, Rodney Mims Cook Jr., made a motion to also vote on final approval, and six of the seven commissioners who were all installed by the Republican president since the start of the year voted in favor twice. One commissioner, James McCrery, did not vote because he was the initial architect on the project.“Our sitting president has actually designed a very beautiful structure,” Cook said before the voting. “The United States just should not be entertaining the world in tents.”Cook echoed one of Trump’s arguments for adding a ballroom to the White House: It would end the long-standing practice of erecting temporary structures that Trump calls tents on the South Lawn to host visiting dignitaries for state dinners and other functions.Cook said no other president had taken steps to correct that “until President Trump.”The project will be the subject of additional discussion by the National Capital Planning Commission in March.At the fine art’s commission’s January meeting, some commissioners questioned the lead architect about the “immense” design and scale of the project even as they broadly endorsed Trump’s vision for a ballroom roughly twice the size of the White House itself.Some changes suggested at that meeting were made and were welcomed by the commissioners on Thursday.Trump’s decision in October to demolish the East Wing prompted a public outcry when it began without the independent reviews, congressional approval and public comment that are typical even for relatively minor modifications to historic buildings in Washington.The National Trust for Historic Preservation has sued in federal court to halt construction of the ballroom. A court decision in the case is pending.The project is scheduled for additional discussion at a March 5 meeting of the National Capital Planning Commission, which is led by one of Trump’s top White House aides. The commission has jurisdiction over construction and major renovations to government buildings in the region.___This story has been corrected to reflect that the ballroom was approved by six of the seven commissioners and that one commissioner did not vote because he was the initial architect on the project.

WASHINGTON —

The U.S. Commission of Fine Arts, a panel made up of President Donald Trump’s appointees, on Thursday approved his proposal to build a ballroom larger than the White House itself where the East Wing once stood.

The meeting was supposed to be on the design, with a final vote expected at next month’s session. But the chairman, Rodney Mims Cook Jr., made a motion to also vote on final approval, and six of the seven commissioners who were all installed by the Republican president since the start of the year voted in favor twice. One commissioner, James McCrery, did not vote because he was the initial architect on the project.

“Our sitting president has actually designed a very beautiful structure,” Cook said before the voting. “The United States just should not be entertaining the world in tents.”

Cook echoed one of Trump’s arguments for adding a ballroom to the White House: It would end the long-standing practice of erecting temporary structures that Trump calls tents on the South Lawn to host visiting dignitaries for state dinners and other functions.

Cook said no other president had taken steps to correct that “until President Trump.”

The project will be the subject of additional discussion by the National Capital Planning Commission in March.

At the fine art’s commission’s January meeting, some commissioners questioned the lead architect about the “immense” design and scale of the project even as they broadly endorsed Trump’s vision for a ballroom roughly twice the size of the White House itself.

Some changes suggested at that meeting were made and were welcomed by the commissioners on Thursday.

Trump’s decision in October to demolish the East Wing prompted a public outcry when it began without the independent reviews, congressional approval and public comment that are typical even for relatively minor modifications to historic buildings in Washington.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation has sued in federal court to halt construction of the ballroom. A court decision in the case is pending.

The project is scheduled for additional discussion at a March 5 meeting of the National Capital Planning Commission, which is led by one of Trump’s top White House aides. The commission has jurisdiction over construction and major renovations to government buildings in the region.

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This story has been corrected to reflect that the ballroom was approved by six of the seven commissioners and that one commissioner did not vote because he was the initial architect on the project.

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February 19, 2026
Interactive photos show how the White House has changed in President Trump’s second term

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Every president who moves into the White House puts individual touches on the decor to some extent, maybe none more than President Donald Trump during the first year of his second term.Some of the changes can be easily seen from the streets surrounding the executive mansion, while others can only be seen in photos.The Get the Facts Data Team built the following interactive photos, where you can see some of the most notable changes for yourself. East Wing demolitionStarting outside with arguably the most controversial of the renovations is the East Wing demolition. The interactive photo below shows the changes. On the left, you see the view from the Washington Monument in September 2024, and on the right, you’ll see the large construction site. The highly-publicized and discussed East Wing project started in September. The White House said it’s projected to be complete “well before the President’s term.” New flags installedTwo large, 88-foot flagpoles were installed at the president’s direction on both sides of the White House.Oval Office gets golden makeover Inside the White House, the president has made a lot of changes. It’s common for each president to re-paint and change up the furniture and portraits.The area in front of the fireplace, where presidents usually sit with other world leaders, is now adorned with more decorations with a golden flair.The doors that lead outside from the Oval Office also have gold accents. There’s also a new large sign next to the door, similar to other signs around the White House. The president’s Cabinet Room has been similarly remodeled to feature more gold accents.West Wing walk undergoes changesThe West Colonnade, which is an outdoor corridor to get from the residence to the West Wing, has gold accents and a presidential walk of fame, featuring portraits of all past presidents. The president has received criticism for the plaques of former Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden because they promote disinformation about their administrations. A new look for the Rose GardenThe Rose Garden has been transformed into an outdoor patio with tables and umbrellas that are inspired by the president’s Mar-a-Lago resort.

WASHINGTON —

Every president who moves into the White House puts individual touches on the decor to some extent, maybe none more than President Donald Trump during the first year of his second term.

Some of the changes can be easily seen from the streets surrounding the executive mansion, while others can only be seen in photos.

The Get the Facts Data Team built the following interactive photos, where you can see some of the most notable changes for yourself.

East Wing demolition

Starting outside with arguably the most controversial of the renovations is the East Wing demolition. The interactive photo below shows the changes. On the left, you see the view from the Washington Monument in September 2024, and on the right, you’ll see the large construction site.

The highly-publicized and discussed East Wing project started in September. The White House said it’s projected to be complete “well before the President’s term.”

New flags installed

Two large, 88-foot flagpoles were installed at the president’s direction on both sides of the White House.

Oval Office gets golden makeover

Inside the White House, the president has made a lot of changes. It’s common for each president to re-paint and change up the furniture and portraits.

The area in front of the fireplace, where presidents usually sit with other world leaders, is now adorned with more decorations with a golden flair.

The doors that lead outside from the Oval Office also have gold accents. There’s also a new large sign next to the door, similar to other signs around the White House.

The president’s Cabinet Room has been similarly remodeled to feature more gold accents.

West Wing walk undergoes changes

The West Colonnade, which is an outdoor corridor to get from the residence to the West Wing, has gold accents and a presidential walk of fame, featuring portraits of all past presidents.

The president has received criticism for the plaques of former Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden because they promote disinformation about their administrations.

A new look for the Rose Garden

The Rose Garden has been transformed into an outdoor patio with tables and umbrellas that are inspired by the president’s Mar-a-Lago resort.

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January 18, 2026
White House to reopen for public tours with ‘updated route’ next month – WTOP News

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Public tours of the White House will resume in early December amid ongoing construction for a new ballroom.

The White House says it will resume public tours starting on Dec. 2.

Tours of the People’s House paused “indefinitely” in August, in preparation for the construction of President Donald Trump’s new ballroom.

The East Wing, which was demolished last month as part of the construction process, has historically been the spot where visitors enter the building for public tours.

In light of the renovation works, the upcoming tours will now lead visitors through “an updated route,” according to a news release.

All December tours will spotlight first lady Melania Trump’s Christmas decorations on the State Floor, per the release.

Congressional offices may once again submit constituent tour requests on Monday.

Tour availabilities for December will open 30 days ahead of each potential tour date, while tour availabilities for January 2026 should be made available to congressional offices at some point next month.

For more information about public White House tours, check here or contact your congressional representative.

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© 2025 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

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November 3, 2025
Americans largely oppose Trump tearing down White House East Wing to make way for his ballroom: Poll – WTOP News

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A 56% majority of Americans oppose the Trump administration tearing down the East Wing of the White House as part of the construction of a 90,000-square-foot ballroom paid for by $300 million in private donations.

Alex Wong/Getty Images

(WASHINGTON) — Most Americans oppose the demolition of the White House’s East Wing to make way for President Donald Trump’s ballroom, according to an ABC News/Washington Post/Ipsos poll conducted using Ipsos’ KnowledgePanel.

A 56% majority of Americans oppose the Trump administration tearing down the East Wing of the White House as part of the construction of a 90,000-square-foot ballroom paid for by $300 million in private donations, including 45% who “strongly” oppose it, the poll finds.

Just 28% of Americans support it, with 15% strongly supporting the East Wing being torn down for a ballroom, the poll found. Another 16% say they are not sure.

Support breaks down by party lines, with a 62% majority of Republicans in support and 88% of Democrats opposed. A 61% majority of independents oppose the East Wing tear town and ballroom, with nearly half opposing it strongly, according to the poll.

Opinions are much stronger among Democrats: 78% of Democrats strongly oppose the teardown and ballroom, a much smaller 35% of Republicans strongly support it.

A majority of liberals (76%) and about half of moderates (51%) strongly oppose the East Wing teardown and ballroom, while just about a third of conservatives (34%) support it strongly.

Strong support peaks among strong Trump approvers, with 58% saying they strongly support the teardown of the East Wing and ballroom. Among those who somewhat approve of Trump, just 11% strongly support the plan.

Among strong Trump disapprovers, 82% strongly oppose tearing down the East Wing and building a ballroom, while a much smaller 37% of those who somewhat disapprove of the president strongly oppose the plan.

Just about four in 10 conservative Republicans (42%) say they are strongly in favor of the plan. Conversely, 82% of liberal Democrats and 73% of moderate and conservative Democrats oppose it strongly.

Methodology: This ABC News/Washington Post/Ipsos poll was conducted online via the probability-based Ipsos KnowledgePanel® Oct. 24-28, 2025, in English and Spanish, among a random national sample of 2,725 U.S. adults and has a margin of error of plus or minus 1.9 percentage points, including the design effect. Error margins are larger for subgroups. The partisan divisions are 28% Democrats, 31% Republicans and 41% independents or something else.

See more details on ABC News’ survey methodology here.

Copyright © 2025, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

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WTOP Staff

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October 30, 2025
Former Archivist of the U.S. gives East Wing origin story – WTOP News

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It’s possible that for generations of Americans this past week will be remembered for when the East Wing of the White House was demolished to make way for President Donald Trump’s $300 million ballroom.

This photo provided by the U.S. Library of Congress shows the East entrance of the White House, Washington, in 1906.
(U.S. Library of Congress via AP)
U.S. Library of Congress via AP

This photo provided by the U.S. Library of Congress shows a crowd outside the White House on the wedding day of Jessie Woodrow Wilson, daughter of President Wilson who married Francis Bowes Sayre, in a White House ceremony in Washington, Nov. 25, 1913.
(U.S. Library of Congress via AP)
U.S. Library of Congress via AP

Liz Carpenter, press secretary and staff director for first lady Lady Bird Johnson, poses for a photo in her office in the East Wing of the White House in D.C., Dec. 9, 1963. On the walls are her Theta Sigma Phi Headliner Award and two photos of Mrs. Lyndon B. Johnson.
(AP Photo/Harvey Georges, File)
AP Photo/Harvey Georges, File

President Bush waves as walks away from the East Wing of the White House to the neighboring Treasury Building for the swearing-in of Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, July 10, 2006 in Washington. At right is Chief of Staff Joshua Bolton.
(AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais, File)
AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais, File

First lady Laura Bush, left, meets with U.N. Special Adviser on Burma Ibrahim Gambari in her East Wing office of the White House in Washington, Dec. 17, 2007.
(AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File)
AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File

The East Wing hallway of the White House is decorated for the holiday season, Nov. 29, 2016, in Washington.
(AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File)
AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File

Vice President Kamala Harris participates in a swearing-in ceremony with Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Yellen’s husband George Akerlof, Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2021, at the White House in Washington. The Treasury building stands behind.
(AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
AP Photo/Patrick Semansky

A Marine White House Military social aide holds the door to the East Wing entrance of the White House during a press preview of the White House holiday decorations, Monday, Nov. 29, 2021, in Washington.
(AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
AP Photo/Evan Vucci

The entrance to the East Wing of the White House is decorated for the holiday season during a press preview of holiday decorations at the White House, Monday, Nov. 28, 2022, in Washington.
(AP/Patrick Semansky)
AP/Patrick Semansky

Work continues on the demolition of a part of the East Wing of the White House, Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2025, in Washington, before construction of a new ballroom.
(AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin

Work begins on the demolition of a part of the East Wing of the White House, Monday, Oct. 20, 2025, in Washington, before construction of a new ballroom.
(AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
AP Photo/Evan Vucci

Work begins on the demolition of a part of the East Wing of the White House, Monday, Oct. 20, 2025, in Washington, before construction of a new ballroom.
(AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
AP Photo/Evan Vucci

It’s possible that for generations of Americans, this past week will be remembered for when the East Wing of the White House was demolished to make way for President Donald Trump’s $300 million ballroom.

While for some it may seem like both the East and West wings have been a part of the Executive Mansion since President John Adams moved in back on Nov. 1, 1800, the truth is both the East and West Wings were built to accommodate the large family of the president who officially named the mansion, The White House.

A little over 100 years after Adams made Pennsylvania Avenue home, Theodore Roosevelt realized with his six children, he was going to need more room upstairs in the Executive Mansion and to move his “home office” someplace else.

Colleen J. Shogan, the 11th Archivist of the United States, told WTOP that the 26th president needed to expand the West Wing for office space and The East Wing was more for socializing.

“They started to welcome more and more visitors to the White House for formal events and needed a place for the carriages to drive up, and then eventually, when cars were in place,” Shogan said.

While Thomas Jefferson had an east and west colonnade built at the Executive Mansion, it was not until Teddy Roosevelt that a structure was built.

The next change for the East Wing would take place 40 years later while Teddy Roosevelt’s cousin was commander in chief.

“The East Wing we know today occurred under Franklin Roosevelt,” Shogan said. “The East Wing actually was modernized and there were two floors built.”

Shogan, who also served as senior vice president of The White House Historical Association, said along with being the place you would enter when visiting the White House on a tour or for a formal event, the space also included a workspace.

“There’s the calligraphy office, the Office of the First Lady, the Office of the Social Secretary for the White House, and then numerous other historic sites as you make your way into the main mansion,” Shogan said.

One of the amenities that presidents have loved for decades was also housed in the East Win: the White House Family Theater, which also served another purpose.

“Even in modern days it turned into a coat room,” Shogan said. “There was simply no other place to store such a high volume of coats when people come for a state dinner or another formal event at the White House.”

It was not until 1977 that the East Wing became the home for the first lady’s office, thanks to former first lady Rosalynn Carter.

Shogan believes the purpose that the East Wing serves is why so many Americans were upset by the images and videos last week.

“Americans really love their first ladies,” Shogan said. “They may, may or may not like the president, but first ladies are usually given different status in American cultural memory.”

Shogan told WTOP she heard the White House Historical Association did preserve photography of the East Wing before it was demolished and was there to assist with preservation of the portraits and other historic items.

“There’s a lot of things that are owned by the White House, that are not on display,” Shogan said. “So, they have excellent storage for preservation and conservation purposes.”

Shogan served as archivist until President Donald Trump dismissed her this past February. She is now the president and CEO of nonprofit In Pursuit.

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© 2025 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

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Jimmy Alexander

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October 26, 2025
Donald Trump sued over east wing demolition

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President Donald Trump is facing legal action over the demolition of the White House’s East Wing, part of a $300 million plan to build a new ballroom on the executive grounds.

A Virginia couple, Charles and Judith Voorhees, filed an emergency motion in federal court on October 23 seeking to halt the project, alleging that it violates multiple federal preservation and planning laws.

Newsweek contacted the White House and attorneys for the couple for comment via email outside of normal office hours on Friday.

Why It Matters

The fight over Trump’s demolition project goes beyond a construction dispute—it’s a test of presidential power, public ownership, and historic preservation.

The Voorhees lawsuit seeking to halt the project argues that Trump bypassed laws meant to protect national landmarks and public transparency.

At stake is whether a sitting president can unilaterally alter one of the country’s most symbolically important buildings, or whether the “People’s House” must remain subject to the same review and accountability standards that govern other federal projects.

What To Know

The Lawsuit And What It Alleges

The filing, lodged in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, requests a temporary restraining order “to halt defendants’ destruction of the East Wing of the White House… without legally required approvals or reviews,” according to the plaintiffs’ application for injunctive relief.

The defendants are listed as Trump, in his official capacity, and Jessica Brown, director of the National Park Service.

Attorney Mark R. Denicore, who represents the Voorheeses, said he acted quickly to file the case. “I threw that together as fast as I could to try to get it filed as fast as I could,” Denicore told Politico on Thursday.

He added that his clients “are just people, U.S. citizens, that don’t like their house being torn down without going through proper procedures.”

The complaint argues that the administration began demolishing the East Wing without first submitting final plans to the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC) or consulting with the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation and the D.C. State Historic Preservation Office.

It also cites an alleged failure to seek guidance from the Commission of Fine Arts, which traditionally reviews exterior changes to federal landmarks.

What’s Happening At The White House

Photographs published on Thursday showed the entire East Wing—long home to first ladies’ offices, state dinner planning and ceremonial events—had been reduced to rubble as part of Trump’s proposal to construct a ballroom nearly twice the size of the White House.

Addressing questions about the president’s earlier remarks that his planned ballroom project would not affect the existing structure of the White House, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the administration had made clear from the start that the East Wing would need to be “modernized.” She added that “plans changed” after Trump consulted with architects and construction firms working on the project.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation expressed concern in a letter sent Tuesday to the National Park Service and other agencies.

“We respectfully urge the Administration and the National Park Service to pause demolition until plans for the proposed ballroom go through the legally required public review processes,” wrote Carol Quillen, the organization’s president and chief executive.

Quillen said the planned 90,000-square-foot ballroom “will overwhelm the White House itself,” which spans about 55,000 square feet.

The Project And Its Wider Implications

The White House has framed Trump’s new ballroom as the latest in a long tradition of presidential renovations, comparing it to historic presidential expansions from Theodore Roosevelt’s West Wing to John F Kennedy’s Rose Garden and Harry Truman’s full reconstruction.

Officials have likened it to past expansions such as the creation of the West Wing and reconstruction of the Executive Mansion. The East Wing, first built in 1902 and expanded during World War II, historically housed the first lady’s offices and the White House Social Office.

The structure sits above the Presidential Emergency Operations Center, a Cold War-era bunker constructed in 1942.

The White House has defended the project as both lawful and consistent with presidential authority. Trump has argued the White House needs a large entertaining space, criticizing the past practice of presidents hosting state dinners and other large events in tents on the South Lawn.

“President Trump has full legal authority to modernize, renovate, and beautify the White House—just like all of his predecessors did,” White House spokesperson Davis Ingle told Politico.

Leavitt also described public criticism as “fake outrage,” telling Fox News that “nearly every single president who has lived in this beautiful White House… has made modernizations and renovations of their own.”

According to a July 31 White House press release, the ballroom will replace the “small, heavily changed, and reconstructed East Wing” with a larger facility capable of hosting 650 guests.

The design, by Washington-based McCrery Architects, aims to match “the theme and architectural heritage” of the existing building, it added.

The statement said the project would be privately funded through donations from “patriot donors” and completed before the end of Trump’s term. But the White House has not released a full list of the donors who have contributed to the project, raising ethical concerns and questions about conflicts of interest.

Preservation experts note that the White House grounds are governed by multiple overlapping statutes, though the Executive Residence has historically been treated as exempt from some federal planning reviews.

The National Park Service’s 2014 White House and President’s Park Foundation Document identifies the White House and its wings as “fundamental resources” whose design and integrity are central to the site’s national significance.

What People Are Saying

Donald Trump said on Thursday: “In order to do it properly, we had to take down the existing structure.”

Hillary Clinton said on X on Monday: “It’s not his house. It’s your house. And he’s destroying it.”

Sara C. Bronin, Freda H. Alverson Professor of Law at the George Washington University Law School, and former chair of the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, said: “There are other federal statutes requiring the administration to take certain steps before they act to do anything on White House grounds, if they had, they would have no doubt refrained from bulldozing our shared history.”

What Happens Next

It remains unclear whether the Voorhees lawsuit will gain traction. A federal judge in Washington, D.C., will decide whether to grant the temporary restraining order sought by the couple to halt the project, but no hearing date has been set in the case.

The court ruling will determine whether the renovation continues and could set precedent on how much control a president has over altering the nation’s most historic residence.

Federal courts generally require plaintiffs to show a specific, personal injury to establish standing—a high bar for citizens objecting to government property decisions since courts often dismiss cases brought by citizens without a direct stake.

Even if the case proceeds, most of the East Wing has already been torn down, making a work stoppage largely symbolic.

Oversight bodies such as the National Capital Planning Commission may still review the ballroom plans, but their authority over the Executive Residence is limited.

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October 24, 2025
Demolition company at White House gets taken apart over taking the East Wing job – WTOP News

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Maryland-based construction company ACECO has become a target for online scorn because of its association with the White House demolition work.

Call ACECO’s Silver Spring, Maryland, office and the recorded message will tell you it’s the “premier demolition contractor in the D.C. metro area.” But that’s not how many on social media see it since the contracting company’s work on the White House’s East Wing started this week.

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© 2025 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

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Kate Ryan

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October 23, 2025
Did Trump flip-flop on White House East Wing demolition? Yes

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Even as the federal government grappled with a weeks-long shutdown and foreign policy concerns, the sight of demolition equipment tearing down portions of the White House riveted the nation’s capital, and Americans everywhere.

The demolition work stemmed from President Donald Trump’s plans to build a $250 million, 90,000-square-feet ballroom — which he said would provide an amenity without infringing on the rest of the historic complex.

On Oct. 20, demolition crews began tearing down much of the White House’s East Wing, which includes office space for first lady Melania Trump and her staff, as well as serving as an entry point for visitors. Photographs obtained by The Washington Post Oct. 20 showed portions of the building’s familiar white facade destroyed, leaving metal and jagged edges open to the air.

The New York Times reported Oct. 22 that the entire East Wing would be demolished, citing an anonymous White House official who said this approach would be cheaper and more structurally sound. CNBC had similar reporting.

In mid-October, the Society of Architectural Historians expressed “great concern” about the changes to the White House. The National Trust for Historic Preservation said it was “deeply concerned” about the project. In August, the American Institute of Architects wrote that “further changes must proceed in a systematic manner that is rooted in a deep understanding of place and a thoughtful, deliberate design process.”

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We decided to deploy our Flip-O-Meter to look at whether Trump proceeded with a partial teardown after having promised no substantive changes to the historic White House structure.

On July 31, the White House announced its plans for constructing the ballroom. While promoting the project at the White House, Trump said the ballroom “won’t interfere with the current building. … It will be near it but not touching it. It pays total respect to the existing building, which I’m the biggest fan of. It’s my favorite place. I love it.”

Trump’s description is at odds with the changes made in late October.

In a statement to PolitiFact, the White House said, “The scope and size of the project has always been subject to vary as the process developed.”

Ballroom project basics

The project aims to expand the East Wing’s seating capacity for events. The East Room currently seats 200 people, but the new ballroom is designed to fit 650 to 999 people, according to Trump’s most recent comments.

Trump says this change is necessary to host large-scale events, including visits by foreign leaders. In July, the project’s estimated cost was $200 million, but in September Trump upped that estimate to $250 million. Trump has said the project will be funded by private donations, including from him.

Historic preservation advocates expressed concern that there hasn’t been enough independent review of the plan, especially given the White House’s historical importance.

“While we recognize that the White House is a building with evolving needs, and that it has undergone various exterior and interior modifications since construction began in 1792, the proposed ballroom will be the first major change to its exterior appearance in the last 83 years,” the Society of Architectural Historians wrote Oct. 16.

“Such a significant change to a historic building of this import should follow a rigorous and deliberate design and review process,” the group said.

The project has not been approved by the National Capital Planning Commission, the federal agency responsible for approving construction and renovation of federal buildings. At the commission’s September meeting, the Trump-appointed commission chair Will Scharf said the agency has no jurisdiction over “demolition and site preparation work,” only over construction and “vertical build.” The commission is closed because of the government shutdown.

Trump has already made other changes to the White House’s interior and exterior since his second term began, including adding gold highlights inside the Oval Office and paving over the Rose Garden lawn.

President Barack Obama walks with Kaye Wilson, left, and daughters Malia, center, and Sasha toward the White House’s East Wing on Oct. 28, 2012. (White House/Pete Souza)

How the White House described the proposed changes

Trump’s assertion that the new ballroom “won’t interfere with the current building” is contradicted by photographic evidence.

“I would say that Trump’s statement regarding the ballroom not interfering with the current building (is) inaccurate,” said Michael Spencer, an associate professor in the University of Mary Washington’s historic preservation department.

Trump’s remarks also diverge from the White House’s description of the project on the same day.

In a July 31 press briefing, Leavitt said, “The site of the new ballroom will be where the small, heavily changed and reconstructed East Wing currently sits.”

Later during the briefing, a reporter asked Leavitt, “How much of the East Wing will be torn down? The entire East Wing or just parts of it?”

Leavitt didn’t answer the question directly.

“The East Wing is going to be modernized,” she said. “The necessary construction will take place, and for those who are housed in the East Wing, including the Office of the First Lady, the White House Military Office, the White House Visitors Offices, those offices will be temporarily relocated while the East Wing is being modernized.”

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt holds up photos of a planned White House ballroom on July 31, 2025. (AP)

Leavitt’s message echoed what appeared in a July 31 White House news release. While the news release said the ballroom would be “substantially separated from the main building of the White House,” it went on to say that “the site of the new ballroom will be where the small, heavily changed, and reconstructed East Wing currently sits.”

Spencer said he considers Leavitt’s comments and the news release “fair warning” of the project’s size and reach, even if a president’s words tend to attract more public attention. He said the renderings provided to reporters and posted on the White House website conveyed the scale of the project.

Our ruling

Trump said the new White House ballroom “won’t interfere with the current building. … It will be near it but not touching it.”

The photos don’t lie: Recent images of the project show much of the East Wing torn down, and on Oct. 22, The New York Times reported that the plan is to fully demolish the East Wing.

The White House press office described the project in greater detail than Trump, though without explicitly saying the East Wing would be fully demolished. Regardless, the shift from Trump’s initial assertion — that the “current building” wouldn’t be interfered with — to the demolition work in October represents a complete change in position. We rate it a Full Flop.

UPDATE, Oct. 22, 2025: This story has been updated to include a comment from the White House received after publication time.

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October 22, 2025
The White House starts demolishing part of the East Wing to build Trump’s ballroom – WTOP News

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The White House on Monday started tearing down part of the East Wing, the traditional base of operations for the first lady, to build President Donald Trump’s ballroom.

Work begins on the demolition of a part of the East Wing of the White House, Monday, Oct. 20, 2025, in Washington, before construction of a new ballroom.
(AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
AP Photo/Evan Vucci

Barricades are in place for construction work for the planned new White House ballroom Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025, in Washington.
(AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein

Work begins on the demolition of a part of the East Wing of the White House, Monday, Oct. 20, 2025, in Washington, before construction of a new ballroom.
(AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
AP Photo/Evan Vucci

Work begins on the demolition of a part of the East Wing of the White House, Monday, Oct. 20, 2025, in Washington, before construction of a new ballroom.
(AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
AP Photo/Evan Vucci

Work begins on the demolition of a part of the East Wing of the White House, Monday, Oct. 20, 2025, in Washington, before construction of a new ballroom.
(AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
AP Photo/Evan Vucci

Work begins on the demolition of a part of the East Wing of the White House, Monday, Oct. 20, 2025, in Washington, before construction of a new ballroom.
(AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
AP Photo/Evan Vucci

WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House on Monday started tearing down part of the East Wing, the traditional base of operations for the first lady, to build President Donald Trump’s $250 million ballroom despite lacking approval for construction from the federal agency that oversees such projects.

Dramatic photos of the demolition work showed construction equipment tearing into the East Wing façade and windows and other building parts in tatters on the ground. Some reporters watched from a park near the Treasury Department, which is next to the East Wing.

Trump announced the start of construction in a social media post and referenced the work while hosting 2025 college baseball champs Louisiana State University and LSU-Shreveport in the East Room. He noted the work was happening “right behind us.”

“We have a lot of construction going on, which you might hear periodically,” he said, adding, “It just started today.”

The White House has moved ahead with the massive construction project despite not yet having sign-off from the National Capital Planning Commission, which approves construction work and major renovations to government buildings in the Washington area.

Its chairman, Will Scharf, who is also the White House staff secretary and one of Trump’s top aides, said at the commission’s September meeting that agency does not have jurisdiction over demolition or site preparation work for buildings on federal property.

“What we deal with is essentially construction, vertical build,” Scharf said last month.

It was unclear whether the White House had submitted the ballroom plans for the agency’s review and approval. The White House did not respond to a request for comment and the commission’s offices are closed because of the government shutdown.

The Republican president had said in July when the project was announced that the ballroom would not interfere with the mansion itself.

“It’ll be near it but not touching it and pays total respect to the existing building, which I’m the biggest fan of,” he said of the White House.

The East Wing houses several offices, including those of the first lady. It was built in 1902 and and has been renovated over the years, with a second story added in 1942, according to the White House.

Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, said those East Wing offices will be temporarily relocated during construction and that wing of the building will be modernized and renovated.

“Nothing will be torn down,” Leavitt said when she announced the project in July.

Trump insists that presidents have desired such a ballroom for 150 years and that he’s adding the massive 90,000-square-foot, glass-walled space because the East Room, which is the largest room in the White House with an approximately 200-person capacity, is too small. He also has said he does not like the idea of hosting kings, queens, presidents and prime ministers in pavilions on the South Lawn.

Trump said in the social media announcement that the project would be completed “with zero cost to the American Taxpayer! The White House Ballroom is being privately funded by many generous Patriots, Great American Companies, and, yours truly.”

The ballroom will be the biggest structural change to the Executive Mansion since the addition in 1948 of the Truman Balcony overlooking the South Lawn, even dwarfing the residence itself.

At a dinner he hosted last week for some of the wealthy business executives who are donating money toward the $250 million construction cost, Trump said the project had grown in size and now will accommodate 999 people. The capacity was 650 seated people at the July announcement.

The White House has said it will disclose information on who has contributed money to build the ballroom, but has yet to do so.

Trump also said at last week’s event that the head of Carrier Global Corp., a leading manufacturer of heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems, had offered to donate the air conditioning system for the ballroom.

Carrier confirmed to The Associated Press on Monday that it had done so. A cost estimate was not immediately available.

“Carrier is honored to provide the new iconic ballroom at the White House with a world-class, energy-efficient HVAC system, bringing comfort to distinguished guests and dignitaries in this historic setting for years to come,” the company said in an emailed statement.

The clearing of trees on the south grounds and other site preparation work for the construction started in September. Plans call for the ballroom to be ready before Trump’s term ends in January 2029.

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October 20, 2025