A new poll shows Americans overwhelmingly disapprove of President Donald Trump’s decision to tear down the White House’s East Wing to build a massive 90,000-square-foot ballroom.
The joint survey by ABC News, Ipsos, and The Washington Post found just 28 percent of U.S. adults support the demolition project, while 56 percent oppose it and 16 percent are undecided.
The numbers reveal sharp partisan divides. Nearly 9 in 10 Democrats and roughly 6 in 10 independents oppose the ballroom decision, while only 2 in 10 Republicans disapprove. Democrats also feel more strongly: 78 percent are “strongly opposed,” compared with 35 percent of Republicans “strongly in favor.”
The poll surveyed 2,725 adults online from October 24 to 28, with a plus or minus 1.9 percentage-point margin of error. A separate Economist-YouGov poll found similar results, with 25 percent supporting and 61 percent opposing the project.
The project is being funded by $300 million in private donations from American businesses and individuals. According to the White House, donors include Apple, Amazon, Google, and Palantir, along with wealthy individuals like Blackstone CEO Stephen Schwarzman and crypto investors Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss.
While in Tokyo on Tuesday, Trump insisted the project is popular. “People are loving it,” he said, citing favorable editorials in The Post and New York Times.
The ballroom plan made headlines and drew widespread criticism last week when demolition began. Trump had previously said in July that it “won’t interfere” with the current White House structure. The entire East Wing has since been knocked down, a space historically home to the first lady’s office and other reception rooms.
Lawmakers and some conservatives criticized Trump for moving forward without federal review, though the administration defended it as a privately funded, much-needed expansion. Critics argue the project exemplifies glaringly misplaced priorities, advancing a costly personal project while millions face food insecurity amid the government shutdown.
Trump is appointing allies to boards overseeing the plan, which has grown from a $200 million, 650-person space to a $300 million, 1,000-person ballroom. Officials are informally calling the planned event space “The President Donald J. Trump Ballroom,” ABC News reports. Though Trump has not confirmed a name, senior Trump officials told the outlet the name will “likely stick.”
In a statement, White House spokesman Davis Ingle said: “President Trump is working 24/7 to Make America Great Again, including his historic beautification of the White House, at no taxpayer expense. These long-needed upgrades will benefit generations of future presidents and American visitors to the People’s House.”
The White House expects the ballroom project to be completed well before 2029.
