The gaping holes, torn-down walls, and broken windows reflect the current state of the East Wing after backhoes and bulldozers were brought in to begin demolition on President Donald Trump‘s new ballroom, which has created further controversy.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt clapped back at critics, calling it “fake outrage.” She claims Democrats are just “jealous” that the president is building a new ballroom.
During an interview with Fox News host Jesse Watters, Leavitt explained how nearly every president who has lived in the White House has made modernizations and renovations of their own. She said presidents, in the past, have said how they wish they could have had a larger event space.
She went on to say that former President Barack Obama had to hold a state visit on the South Lawn and “get a very expensive tent.”
Leavitt said while many presidents have “privately and publicly dreamt of this, it’s President Trump who is actually doing something.”
She referred to Trump as the “Builder in Chief” and how he’s “good at building things” and has done it his entire life. She explained how construction is a process.
Leavitt described the East Wing as an entirely separate structure from the Executive Mansion and said that it would be more modern and beautiful than ever.
“The White House will have a big, beautiful ballroom for generations to come,” said Leavitt. “The best part of it all, it’s not a dime of taxpayers’ money.”
‘Big, beautiful White House ballroom’
The new ballroom is expected to measure about 90,000 square feet. Trump said the ballroom will be able to hold 999 people. Currently, only 200 people are allowed at the White House event space in the East Wing.
The president has described the new ballroom as having four sides of “bulletproof” glass that will be “totally appropriate in color and window shape.”
$250 million price tag
The cost to build the new ballroom was first said to be $200 million. That figure is now $250 million. The White House has not shared any financial breakdown of the building project.
But Leavitt stressed that no taxpayer money is going toward the new White House construction project. The ballroom is being funded personally by Trump and private donors.
The president hosted a dinner last week for those private donors to share ballroom plans. At the time, he said the future space will be “phenomenal” and “one of the best anywhere in the world.”
Why build now?
As Leavitt pointed out in her interview with Watters, past administrations have complained about the need for a bigger event space.
Trump has also complained that the East Room, the largest space in the White House, is not big enough—as it can hold only 200 people.
The president has said he doesn’t like the practice of hosting state dinners and large events in tents on the South Lawn.
Trump took to Truth Social on Monday to say, “I am pleased to announce that ground has been broken on the White House grounds to build the new, big, beautiful White House Ballroom. Completely separate from the White House itself, the East Wing is being fully modernized as part of this process, and will be more beautiful than ever when it is complete!
“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—with zero cost to the American Taxpayer! 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! President DJT,” Trump wrote.
Does the president need permission to renovate the ‘People’s House’?
Trump had said the ballroom project would not affect the existing landmark, and Leavitt and Trump both emphasized that the East Wing is not attached to the Executive Mansion. Still, it’s upset critics who said a review process should have taken place before any construction started.
The White House said on Tuesday that it still intends to submit plans to the National Capital Planning Commission, which oversees federal construction in Washington, DC, and neighboring states.
“Construction plans have not yet been submitted to the National Capital Planning Commission but will be soon,” an official told Reuters, adding that the NCPC “does not have jurisdiction over demolition work.”
East Room versus the ballroom
According to Trump’s description, the East Room will be a space where guests will be able to mingle, have cocktails, and eat hors d’oeuvres until it’s time to move into the ballroom for dinner.
Trump said a set of windows will be removed to create a passageway between the ballroom and the East Room, according to PBS.
The White House has said that the ballroom will be finished in time to use before Trump’s current term ends in January 2029.
Trump’s projects
The ballroom is Trump’s most ambitious construction project since the start of his second term, but it’s not the first.
He decided to give the Rose Garden a redesign, much to the dismay of critics who did not want an overhaul of the space that was installed in 1913 by first lady Ellen Louise Wilson, wife of President Woodrow Wilson.
The grassy space was one of the White House’s most iconic areas, made famous by the rose bushes that lined the landscaped lawn.
Last spring, Trump announced he would be paving over it to make it safer and more convenient for people attending events—particularly for women wearing high heels.
Trump installed flagpoles on the north and south lawns. He decorated an exterior wall with portraits of every past president, except Joe Biden.
During his donor dinner, Trump also revealed he had renovated the bathroom in the Lincoln Bedroom, which is located in the private living quarters.
One of his most ambitious projects is outside the White House grounds. The president revealed last week that he would like to build an arch—similar to the Arc de Triomphe in Paris—across from the Lincoln Memorial.
He said the arch would commemorate next year’s 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
