Demolition crews tearing into the East Wing of the White House have sparked a furious backlash, as President Donald Trump’s plans for a $250 million ballroom roll forward — and the public watches the building’s history crumble in real time.
Photos of the East Wing being ripped apart by heavy machinery went viral Monday, prompting a flood of outrage from Democrats, historians, and political commentators. The cause: Trump’s vision for a grand, privately funded ballroom to host events and donors — and a belief among critics that he’s gutting a historic site to serve himself.
“This breaks my heart and it infuriates me. Hundreds of millions of dollars to build a new ballroom. Good god,” wrote Maria Shriver, niece of President John F. Kennedy.
Karen Finney, political commentator for CNN, called the project “fairly grotesque.” Legal analyst Marcy Wheeler compared the destruction to the War of 1812: “First Trump’s mob attacked the Capitol for the first time since 1812. And now Trump is doing more damage to the White House than the British did in 1814.”
Even Treasury Department employees — whose building neighbors the White House — were warned not to document the demolition.
“As construction proceeds on the White House grounds, employees should refrain from taking and sharing photographs of the grounds, to include the East Wing, without prior approval from the Office of Public Affairs,” read a Tuesday email from Treasury officials, obtained by The Wall Street Journal.
A spokesperson told the WSJ that photos could “potentially reveal sensitive items, including security features or confidential structural details.”
But the warning hasn’t stopped images from flooding social media, or critics from piling on.
California Governor Gavin Newsom wrote on X: “Ripping apart the White House just like he’s ripping apart the Constitution.”
Senator Elizabeth Warren added: “Oh you’re trying to say the cost of living is skyrocketing?… Donald Trump can’t hear you over the sound of bulldozers demolishing a wing of the White House to build a new grand ballroom.”
The East Wing — originally constructed in 1902 and later expanded under President Franklin Roosevelt — has traditionally housed the Office of the First Lady, the White House Military Office, and other essential staff spaces. It also serves as a ceremonial entrance and holds historical and symbolic significance.
Now, it’s being bulldozed to make room for what Trump has described as a “much-needed” addition.
“You know, we’re building right behind us. We’re building a ballroom. They’ve wanted a ballroom for 150 years, and I’m giving that honor to this wonderful place,” Trump said Monday during a ceremony with championship college baseball teams.
He added that the ballroom will be connected to the main residence via a “knockout panel” from the East Room.
According to plans, the new venue will span 90,000 square feet and hold over 650 guests — a sharp upgrade from the 200-person capacity of the existing East Room.
On Monday night, Trump posted to Truth Social: “For more than 150 years, every President has dreamt about having a Ballroom at the White House to accommodate people for grand parties, State Visits, etc. I am honored to be the first President to finally get this much-needed project underway.”
But critics aren’t seeing vision — they’re seeing vanity.
The Democratic Party’s official X account posted: “Trump is tearing down the East Wing of the White House to build a $250 million golden ballroom for himself and his donors.”
The imagery and timing of the demolition — which coincides with a government shutdown and a worsening affordability crisis — have only added fuel to the fire.
What was once the working hub of First Ladies and White House staff is now a construction site. And for many, the sight of history being bulldozed for a ballroom isn’t just disturbing — it’s symbolic.
One viral comment summed up the mood: “He’s not just tearing down walls. He’s tearing down what the White House is supposed to represent.”
