Democrats, left-wing activists and the corporate media have raged over the temporary demolition of the East Wing as the construction of President Donald Trump’s ballroom begins.
The partial demolition of the East Room happened on Monday as construction began on the 90,000 square foot ballroom. Democrats, including former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom and former White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, used a photograph of the construction to accuse Trump of abusing his power despite the extensive history of construction projects undertaken under past presidents at the White House.
Democrat Politicians
“It’s not his house. It’s your house. And he’s destroying it,” Clinton wrote on X.
It’s not his house.
It’s your house.
And he’s destroying it. pic.twitter.com/YchFF5U1nO
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) October 21, 2025
“Ripping apart the White House just like he’s ripping apart the Constitution,” Newsom said.
Ripping apart the White House just like he’s ripping apart the Constitution. https://t.co/zrQVgAIoqB
— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) October 21, 2025
“$250 million for his ballroom. $40 billion for Argentina. $172 million for Kristi Noem’s two private jets. $0 to lower your health care premiums,” Democratic Colorado Rep. Jason Crow said.
$250 million for his ballroom.
$40 billion for Argentina.
$172 million for Kristi Noem’s two private jets.
$0 to lower your health care premiums. https://t.co/TKH2IC9KNH
— Rep. Jason Crow (@RepJasonCrow) October 21, 2025
“Oh, you’re trying to say the cost of living is skyrocketing? Donald Trump can’t hear you over the sound of bulldozers demolishing a wing of the White House to build a new grand ballroom,” Democratic Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren said.
Oh you’re trying to say the cost of living is skyrocketing?
Donald Trump can’t hear you over the sound of bulldozers demolishing a wing of the White House to build a new grand ballroom. https://t.co/bU2up8jGtY
— Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) October 21, 2025
Americans go without paychecks, Trump’s turning the White House into his pet construction project,” Democratic California Rep. Mark Takano said.
Americans go without paychecks, Trump’s turning the White House into his pet construction project. pic.twitter.com/1lGBOIKfg9
Should the construction of Trump's ballroom at the White House proceed amid backlash?— Mark Takano (@RepMarkTakano) October 20, 2025
Left-Wing Activists
I’m only voting for the next Democratic nominee if they promise to demolish Trump’s tacky White House ballroom extension—and make it a live, televised event on day one,” left-wing activist Joshua Reed Eakle said.
I’m only voting for the next Democratic nominee if they promise to demolish Trump’s tacky White House ballroom extension—and make it a live, televised event on day one. https://t.co/fgKbVF64vX
— Joshua Reed Eakle
(@JoshEakle) October 20, 2025
(@JoshEakle) “The View”
“You know who is still bulldozing ahead with building a White House ballroom that no one voted for, no one asked for and once again, it’s promises made and promises broken,” co-host Whoopi Goldberg said. “That is not your building. You don’t own that building. That would be like me going over to Trump Tower and saying I’m gonna build a disco!”
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Later on in the program, former White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the renovation is “corruption at its core,” adding that it is “symbolic” of Trump’s leadership.
“So, the people’s house is basically being sold to the highest bidder. It is corruption at its core, and I heard someone say this while I was backstage. It could not be, there’s no greater metaphor than what’s happening right now in this country than watching Donald Trump take a wrecking ball to the White House,” Jean-Pierre said. “It’s too obvious, it’s like you couldn’t make that up. When I saw this image yesterday, I was like ‘this is not real.’
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Corporate Press
CNN’s Karen Finney said on Monday that the timing of the construction is “grotesque” and “gross.”
“I think it’s fairly grotesque to begin construction, just the optics of beginning construction on a grand ballroom at a time when the government is shutdown, inflation is still high, costs are still high, we saw a new economic indicators coming out today actually showing that middle and lower income Americans are falling behind in car payments which is an early indicator. So even if you believe that this was a good idea, I would say the timing is horrible,” Finney said on “The Source with Kaitlan Collins.” “And look, personally, you know, it was a little shocking to see those images having worked in the White House. I mean, there’s so much beauty and history in the East Wing. So it’s sad to see that, you know, that huge hole there.”
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Trump and other private investors are privately paying for the ballroom, meaning no taxpayer dollars will fund its construction. The new ballroom is expected to hold a seating capacity of 650 people.
Major renovations of the White House have taken place several times throughout the mansion’s history. Former President Theodore Roosevelt drastically remodeled the White House through major renovations, including the East Room and State Dining Room. Major renovations took place in the White House from 1948 to 1952 under the presidency of Harry Truman.
Renovation work on the White House in 1950 (7/) pic.twitter.com/StB7J2gPG8
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) October 21, 2025
Construction also took place to cover the indoor swimming pool and create expanded space for the press.
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