White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt went into a full-on rhetorical gymnastics routine Thursday when pressed on a simple question: Can President Donald Trump just bulldoze whatever he wants — including the Jefferson Memorial — without oversight?
CBS reporter Weijia Jiang hit Leavitt with the obvious question after the nation woke up to photos of the East Wing reduced to rubble — cleared out to make room for what Trump proudly called his “big, beautiful ballroom.” The demolition shocked Americans and blindsided even some inside the administration.
Jiang asked what everyone’s been wondering: “Can the president tear down anything he wants without oversight? Can he demolish this building, or, say the Jefferson Memorial?”
The administration has claimed that because the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC) only reviews construction projects — not demolitions — Trump didn’t need to submit any plans. Jiang pointed out how absurd that sounds, and Leavitt’s response made it worse.
Leavitt’s response? A confusing word salad that managed to create an entirely new term: “vertical construction.”
“So, it’s not the president who came up with that legal opinion himself. That’s a legal opinion that’s been held by the NCPC for many years. … Their general counsel has said, when it comes to phase one of this project, the tearing down of the current East Wing structure, a submission is not required legally for that, only for vertical construction will a submission be required, and that’s a legal opinion from them, and we are following that legal opinion.”
No one had any clue what she meant.
“Vertical construction? I literally work in the industry and I’ve never heard construction categorized in that manner,” one Threads user wrote.
An architect with nearly four decades of experience piled on: “As an architect who’s practiced for almost 40 years (mostly in DC), I can attest I’ve never heard the term ‘vertical construction’ used to describe new construction. It’s either demolition or construction (or remodeling or renovation). ‘Vertical construction’ is a made up term to make what they’re doing seem somehow more legit. It’s not.”
Instead of clarifying, Leavitt veered off into a bizarre defense, asking her own question back at the room.
“I would just add, can any president do such a thing to the White House grounds? There have been many presidents in the past who have made their mark on this beautiful White House complex. This briefing room, as you all know, was not once a briefing room. It was a swimming pool. There have been presidents who have completely torn down the Executive Mansion,” she said.
Then she shifted to the Trump sales pitch. “In due time, the East Wing is going to be more beautiful and modern than ever before,” she promised. “And in addition, there will be a big, beautiful ballroom that can hold big parties and state visits for generations to come.”
Still no answer.
“So, it sounds like the answer is, yes, he can tear down whatever he wants,” Jiang pressed again.
Leavitt, now visibly irritated, interrupted: “That’s not what we’re saying. That’s a legal opinion that’s been held for many years. No, it’s something that presidents have done for years and years,” she insisted, holding up black-and-white photos from 1902 showing the construction of the West Wing.
When Jiang tried to follow up, Leavitt abruptly ignored her and called on another reporter. The next question was about why Trump didn’t tell the public that his ballroom plans involved demolishing the East Wing entirely.
One viewer summed it up online: “Karolyin’ got so excited when her coffee boy handed her those pictures. She really was proud of what she thought was a gotcha.”
Then came another falsehood. Leavitt claimed that when Trump first unveiled the ballroom plans this summer, it was made clear the East Wing would be torn down. That’s flat-out wrong. At the time, Trump described the ballroom as an extension of the East Wing — not a replacement.
“I really wish people like Leavitt would stop the incessant lying in an attempt to convince us all he isn’t the foul, morally decrepit narcissist he so blatantly is. It’s an insult to every thinking person,” one X user wrote.
Another added, “They believe that no rules apply to them.”
Trump originally said donors would fund the $200 million, 90,000-square-foot ballroom addition. Now the East Wing is gone, costs have ballooned to $300 million, and construction timelines are anyone’s guess.
What’s clear is that Leavitt’s performance didn’t just fail to answer the question — it raised a bigger one: How far will this White House go to defend the idea that Trump can bulldoze anything he wants, even the White House itself?
Watch the clip below:
Reporter: “Can the president tear down anything he wants without oversight? Could he demolish this building?”
Leavitt: “It's not the president who came up with that legal opinion himself. That's a legal opinion that's been held by the NCPC for many years.”
Reporter: “It sounds… pic.twitter.com/JEinu8FmCX
— The Bulwark (@BulwarkOnline) October 23, 2025
