President Donald Trump is swinging the wrecking ball at the White House, literally, to build a jaw-dropping $250 million ballroom.
On Monday, October 20, 2025, the White House kicked off a historic demolition of part of the East Wing to make way for a massive 90,000-square-foot, glass-walled venue, designed to host up to 999 guests, all while sidestepping approval from the National Capital Planning Commission, as AP News reports.
Site preparation, including clearing trees on the south grounds, actually started back in September 2025, setting the stage for this ambitious project.
By Monday, dramatic scenes unfolded as construction crews tore into the East Wing façade, with shattered windows and debris littering the ground near the Treasury Department, as seen by reporters watching from a nearby park.
This part of the White House, built in 1902 and long the domain of the first lady’s operations, is getting a full modernization during the overhaul, with offices temporarily relocated.
Trump himself broke the news via social media and even mentioned the construction noise while hosting the 2025 college baseball champions from Louisiana State University and LSU-Shreveport in the East Room.
“We have a lot of construction going on, which you might hear periodically,” Trump noted during the event, casually brushing off the chaos as just another day at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
Let’s be real—while some might wince at the sound of progress, isn’t it refreshing to see a leader who doesn’t shrink from bold moves, even if the timing raises eyebrows?
Trump has long argued that the current East Room, with a measly capacity of about 200, is far too cramped for hosting world leaders, and he’s tired of relegating dignitaries to South Lawn pavilions.
“The White House Ballroom is being privately funded by many generous Patriots, Great American Companies, and, yours truly,” Trump declared, emphasizing that taxpayers won’t foot the bill for this glitzy addition.
While the White House promises transparency on donors, details remain under wraps, though a dinner for wealthy business executives last week hinted at deep-pocketed backers, and Carrier Global Corp. has stepped up to donate the air conditioning system.
Now, isn’t it a nice change to see private enterprise supporting national pride, even if the lack of donor names might fuel progressive skepticism about influence?
This ballroom, slated for completion before Trump’s term ends in January 2029, marks the most significant structural shift to the Executive Mansion since the Truman Balcony was added in 1948, dwarfing the residence itself in scale.
Yet, the decision to plow ahead without the National Capital Planning Commission’s nod—and with the commission’s offices shuttered during a government shutdown—has sparked questions about whether proper oversight was even sought.
Sure, the left will likely cry foul over process, but when has Trump ever played by the bureaucracy’s timid rules, especially for a project he claims presidents have dreamed of for 150 years?
