MEGLOMANIAC GRIFTER VANITY PROJECT
The White House began demolishing part of its East Wing on Monday to build President Donald Trump’s new ballroom, despite lacking approval from the federal agency that normally oversees such projects. Photos showed a backhoe tearing into the façade as reporters watched from a nearby park near the Treasury Department.
Issued on: 21/10/2025
By: FRANCE 24
Workers at the White House prepare to construct a new ballroom, September 16, 2025, Washington, DC. © Andrew Leyden, Reuters
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 despite lacking approval for construction from the federal agency that oversees such projects.
Dramatic photos of the demolition work showed a backhoe 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 door 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.
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 despite lacking approval for construction from the federal agency that oversees such projects.
Dramatic photos of the demolition work showed a backhoe 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 door 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.
Work begins on the demolition of a part of the East Wing of the White House, Monday, October 20, 2025, © Evan Vucci, AP
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. “It’s my favourite. It’s my favorite place. I love it.”
The East Wing houses several offices, including the office of the first lady. It was constructed in 1902 and and has been renovated over the years, and a second story was added in 1942, according to the White House.
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. “It’s my favourite. It’s my favorite place. I love it.”
The East Wing houses several offices, including the office of the first lady. It was constructed in 1902 and and has been renovated over the years, and a second story was added in 1942, according to the White House.
© France 24
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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 modernised and renovated.
“Nothing will be torn down,” Leavitt said when she announced the project in July.
Trump insists that such a ballroom has been desired 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.
The ballroom will be the biggest structural change to the Executive Mansion since the addition of the Truman Balcony overlooking the South Lawn in 1948, even dwarfing the building 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 clearing of trees on the south grounds and other site preparation work started in September. Plans call for the ballroom to be ready before Trump's term ends in January 2029.
(FRANCE 24 with AP)
Trump demolishes part of White House for new ballroom
By AFP
October 20, 2025
Heavy machinery began tearing down a section of the East Wing of the White House as construction commenced on President Donald Trump’s planned ballroom - Copyright AFP/File Leonardo MUNOZ
Danny KEMP
Donald Trump has often been dubbed a political wrecking ball for his unorthodox style — and now the US president has literally started demolition work on the White House.
Work crews began tearing down part of the East Wing on Monday as the former property mogul said work had formally commenced on a huge new $250-million ballroom.
A mechanical excavator had ripped through the facade of the East Wing, leaving a tangle of broken masonry, rubble and steel wires, AFP journalists at the scene saw.
Republican Trump said as he hosted college baseball players at the White House on Monday that “right on the other side you have a lot of construction that you might hear occasionally.”
The 79-year-old billionaire later officially announced that work had started on the ballroom, the biggest addition to the US presidential mansion in more than a century.
“I am pleased to announce that ground has been broken on the White House grounds to build the new, big, beautiful White House Ballroom,” Trump said on his Truth Social network.
Trump said the East Wing was being “fully modernized as part of this process, and will be more beautiful than ever when it is complete!”
The East Wing is where US first ladies have traditionally had their offices. The president works in the West Wing and the couple live in the Executive Mansion.
– ‘Generous Patriots’ –
But while Trump said that the East Wing is “completely separate from the White House itself,” it is in fact physically joined to the main mansion by a covered colonnade.
Trump says the new 90,000-square-foot ballroom with a capacity of 1,000 people is needed to host large state dinners and other events that currently have to be held in a tent.
The former reality TV star held a glitzy dinner at the White House last week for donors to the ballroom.
The guests included representatives from tech firms like Amazon, Apple, Meta, Google, Microsoft and Palantir and defense giant Lockheed Martin — all companies with significant contracts or other dealings with the government.
They also included twins Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, the founders of crypto platform Gemini, who were made famous as jilted investors in the movie “The Social Network” about the birth of Facebook.
“The White House Ballroom is being privately funded by many generous Patriots, Great American Companies, and, yours truly. This Ballroom will be happily used for Generations to come!” he said on Monday.
It is the largest part of the huge makeover Trump has given the White House since returning to power in January, including covering the Oval Office with gold decor and paving over the Rose Garden.
Trump has also unveiled plans for a huge triumphal arch in Washington, which was dubbed the “Arc de Trump” after AFP first revealed the proposal.
By AFP
October 20, 2025
Heavy machinery began tearing down a section of the East Wing of the White House as construction commenced on President Donald Trump’s planned ballroom - Copyright AFP/File Leonardo MUNOZ
Danny KEMP
Donald Trump has often been dubbed a political wrecking ball for his unorthodox style — and now the US president has literally started demolition work on the White House.
Work crews began tearing down part of the East Wing on Monday as the former property mogul said work had formally commenced on a huge new $250-million ballroom.
A mechanical excavator had ripped through the facade of the East Wing, leaving a tangle of broken masonry, rubble and steel wires, AFP journalists at the scene saw.
Republican Trump said as he hosted college baseball players at the White House on Monday that “right on the other side you have a lot of construction that you might hear occasionally.”
The 79-year-old billionaire later officially announced that work had started on the ballroom, the biggest addition to the US presidential mansion in more than a century.
“I am pleased to announce that ground has been broken on the White House grounds to build the new, big, beautiful White House Ballroom,” Trump said on his Truth Social network.
Trump said the East Wing was being “fully modernized as part of this process, and will be more beautiful than ever when it is complete!”
The East Wing is where US first ladies have traditionally had their offices. The president works in the West Wing and the couple live in the Executive Mansion.
– ‘Generous Patriots’ –
But while Trump said that the East Wing is “completely separate from the White House itself,” it is in fact physically joined to the main mansion by a covered colonnade.
Trump says the new 90,000-square-foot ballroom with a capacity of 1,000 people is needed to host large state dinners and other events that currently have to be held in a tent.
The former reality TV star held a glitzy dinner at the White House last week for donors to the ballroom.
The guests included representatives from tech firms like Amazon, Apple, Meta, Google, Microsoft and Palantir and defense giant Lockheed Martin — all companies with significant contracts or other dealings with the government.
They also included twins Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, the founders of crypto platform Gemini, who were made famous as jilted investors in the movie “The Social Network” about the birth of Facebook.
“The White House Ballroom is being privately funded by many generous Patriots, Great American Companies, and, yours truly. This Ballroom will be happily used for Generations to come!” he said on Monday.
It is the largest part of the huge makeover Trump has given the White House since returning to power in January, including covering the Oval Office with gold decor and paving over the Rose Garden.
Trump has also unveiled plans for a huge triumphal arch in Washington, which was dubbed the “Arc de Trump” after AFP first revealed the proposal.
'Losers': White House rages as shock demolition of East Wing gets furious backlash
Adam Nichols
October 21, 2025
RAW STORY
Ongoing construction on the East Wing of the White House, where U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposed ballroom is being built, in Washington, D.C., October 20, 2025. REUTERS/Jessica Koscielniak
The White House reacted late Monday to deafening criticism of its shock move to pull down part of the White House's historic East Wing to make way for a massive ballroom.
President Trump defended the massive project, declaring, "They've wanted a ballroom for 150 years. And I'm giving that honor to this wonderful place. You're gonna see a ballroom the likes of which... I don't think it'll be topped."
Demolition crews moved in on Monday, ripping off the face of the White House wing to begin building the 90,000-square-foot ballroom, designed to accommodate 999 people and be covered in bulletproof glass. California Governor Gavin Newsom dramatically stating Trump is "Ripping apart the White House just like he's ripping apart the Constitution."
But White House officials aggressively defended the renovation. Communications Director Steven Cheung argued, "Construction has always been a part of the evolution of the White House. Losers who are quick to criticize need to stop their pearl clutching and understand the building needs to be modernized."
He also hit out at a Democratic critic, calling him "moronic" and a "buffoon."
Trump emphasized that the project is being privately funded by rich donors — including himself. He recently held an exclusive dinner to thank donors who contributed millions. "A couple of you sitting here [were] saying, 'Uh, sir, would $25 million be appropriate?'," Trump noted. "I said, 'I'll take it.'"
The White House's official response repeatedly stressed that taxpayers would not bear the cost, with its official X account claiming the ballroom "will be cherished for generations."
Critics, including Senators Elizabeth Warren and Tina Smith, lambasted the project. CNN commentator Karen Finney called the timing "fairly grotesque," especially during a government shutdown and high inflation.
In contrast, CNN's conservative commentator Scott Jennings praised the renovation, saying, "Donald Trump is all about hospitality... This is going to give us a place in the White House to do the biggest and best hospitality we've ever done."
Adam Nichols
October 21, 2025
RAW STORY
Ongoing construction on the East Wing of the White House, where U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposed ballroom is being built, in Washington, D.C., October 20, 2025. REUTERS/Jessica Koscielniak
The White House reacted late Monday to deafening criticism of its shock move to pull down part of the White House's historic East Wing to make way for a massive ballroom.
President Trump defended the massive project, declaring, "They've wanted a ballroom for 150 years. And I'm giving that honor to this wonderful place. You're gonna see a ballroom the likes of which... I don't think it'll be topped."
Demolition crews moved in on Monday, ripping off the face of the White House wing to begin building the 90,000-square-foot ballroom, designed to accommodate 999 people and be covered in bulletproof glass. California Governor Gavin Newsom dramatically stating Trump is "Ripping apart the White House just like he's ripping apart the Constitution."
But White House officials aggressively defended the renovation. Communications Director Steven Cheung argued, "Construction has always been a part of the evolution of the White House. Losers who are quick to criticize need to stop their pearl clutching and understand the building needs to be modernized."
He also hit out at a Democratic critic, calling him "moronic" and a "buffoon."
Trump emphasized that the project is being privately funded by rich donors — including himself. He recently held an exclusive dinner to thank donors who contributed millions. "A couple of you sitting here [were] saying, 'Uh, sir, would $25 million be appropriate?'," Trump noted. "I said, 'I'll take it.'"
The White House's official response repeatedly stressed that taxpayers would not bear the cost, with its official X account claiming the ballroom "will be cherished for generations."
Critics, including Senators Elizabeth Warren and Tina Smith, lambasted the project. CNN commentator Karen Finney called the timing "fairly grotesque," especially during a government shutdown and high inflation.
In contrast, CNN's conservative commentator Scott Jennings praised the renovation, saying, "Donald Trump is all about hospitality... This is going to give us a place in the White House to do the biggest and best hospitality we've ever done."
'Bad timing': Trump scolded by Senate Republican for ballroom construction during shutdown
Matthew Chapman
October 21, 2025
The Trump administration's ballroom project, which they boast will be paid for entirely with taxpayer money, is slated to cost $200 million, financed by donations from private companies, and will be considerably larger than the original White House building itself.
While the administration claimed that no aspect of the current facility will be altered to build the new one, new images have emerged of construction that is demolishing portions of the East Wing.
Amid outrage, the White House has dismissed any concerns, asserting that renovations to the East Wing are commonplace and not the same as alterations to the original building. "Construction has always been a part of the evolution of the White House. Losers who are quick to criticize need to stop their pearl clutching and understand the building needs to be modernized," said White House Communications Director Steven Cheung, known for his confrontational and puerile responses to reporters.
Tillis, who is retiring next year, has increasingly grown critical of the Trump administration, leading some to suspect he is more freely speaking his mind now that he is unburdened from the threat of a primary challenge.
Matthew Chapman
October 21, 2025
RAW STORY
Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC). Image via the Tillis for Senate campaign.
At least one Republican senator is dismayed to see President Donald Trump begin construction on his controversial new White House ballroom: Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC).
Speaking to HuffPost's Igor Bobic, Tillis said that the "timing is bad" for Trump to do something so lavish.
“We’re in the middle of a shutdown," said Tillis. "Got a couple of other things going on that we should probably focus on ahead of a building project.”
Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC). Image via the Tillis for Senate campaign.
At least one Republican senator is dismayed to see President Donald Trump begin construction on his controversial new White House ballroom: Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC).
Speaking to HuffPost's Igor Bobic, Tillis said that the "timing is bad" for Trump to do something so lavish.
“We’re in the middle of a shutdown," said Tillis. "Got a couple of other things going on that we should probably focus on ahead of a building project.”
The Trump administration's ballroom project, which they boast will be paid for entirely with taxpayer money, is slated to cost $200 million, financed by donations from private companies, and will be considerably larger than the original White House building itself.
While the administration claimed that no aspect of the current facility will be altered to build the new one, new images have emerged of construction that is demolishing portions of the East Wing.
Amid outrage, the White House has dismissed any concerns, asserting that renovations to the East Wing are commonplace and not the same as alterations to the original building. "Construction has always been a part of the evolution of the White House. Losers who are quick to criticize need to stop their pearl clutching and understand the building needs to be modernized," said White House Communications Director Steven Cheung, known for his confrontational and puerile responses to reporters.
Tillis, who is retiring next year, has increasingly grown critical of the Trump administration, leading some to suspect he is more freely speaking his mind now that he is unburdened from the threat of a primary challenge.
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