The White House begins demolition of part of the East Wing to build former President Donald Trump’s controversial ballroom, set to open before 2029
Construction of the ballroom commissioned by former President Donald Trump at the White House began Monday with the demolition of part of the presidential residence, despite Trump’s earlier claim that the new space would be an annex and would not alter the original structure.
Several correspondents shared the first images of demolition machinery at work on the White House’s East Wing.
According to a statement released by the Trump administration weeks ago, the new facility was supposed to be “substantially separate” from the main building. However, as several journalists on-site confirmed, the original structure of the White House will indeed be affected.
A White House official, speaking anonymously, told *The Washington Post* that the demolition underway is for the ballroom and noted that it will replace the East Wing.
Here are the details on the project, its funding, and its purpose:
- Part of the White House’s East Wing is being demolished.
- A new, expansive ballroom will be built in its place.
- The project, estimated to cost between $180 million and $250 million, will be privately funded. According to reports, former President Donald Trump and other private donors—referred to as “patriots” by the administration—will cover the full cost.
- The primary goal of this renovation is to provide the White House with a permanent, suitable space for large-scale events such as state ceremonies, diplomatic receptions, and official dinners.
- Space constraints: The administration argues that the current largest room, the East Room, only accommodates about 200 guests, often requiring temporary tents on the grounds for larger events, which are considered “unsightly.”
- Capacity: The new ballroom, spanning approximately 8,000 square feet in the East Wing, is designed to hold between 650 and 900 people.
- Legacy: The project has been a long-standing ambition of former President Trump and is seen as part of his legacy, aiming to create a “first-class” ballroom for the presidential residence.
The project has an estimated cost of $200 million, which, according to the White House, will be covered by donations from the former president and other “patriots.”
The construction firm handling the project is Clark Construction, based in Virginia and responsible for landmark projects in the nation’s capital, including Capital One Arena and L’Enfant Plaza.
The design is by McCrery Architects, which will preserve the neoclassical American style that defines the White House.
