Trump Demolishes Part of White House for New Ballroom

Donald Trump, long described as a political wrecking ball for his unconventional approach, has now taken that reputation literally—by beginning demolition work on part of the White House.

Construction crews started tearing down a section of the East Wing on Monday, marking the start of a massive $250 million project to build a new ballroom, the former real estate mogul announced.

AFP journalists at the scene reported that a mechanical excavator had smashed through the East Wing’s façade, leaving behind heaps of rubble, twisted steel, and broken masonry.

While hosting a group of college baseball players at the White House, Trump remarked, “Right on the other side you have a lot of construction that you might hear occasionally.”

The 79-year-old billionaire later formally confirmed that work had begun on what will be the largest addition to the presidential residence in over a century.

“I am pleased to announce that ground has been broken on the White House grounds to build the new, big, beautiful White House Ballroom,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.

He added that the East Wing was being “fully modernized as part of this process and will be more beautiful than ever when it is complete.”

Traditionally, the East Wing houses the offices of the First Lady, while the President works from the West Wing and the couple resides in the Executive Mansion.

Although Trump claimed the East Wing is “completely separate from the White House itself,” it is, in fact, physically connected to the main building via a covered colonnade.

The new 90,000-square-foot ballroom—designed to accommodate up to 1,000 guests—will host large state dinners and other events that previously required temporary tents.

Last week, Trump hosted an exclusive dinner for donors to the ballroom project. Among the guests were representatives from major tech and defense firms such as Amazon, Apple, Meta, Google, Microsoft, Palantir, and Lockheed Martin—all of which maintain extensive government contracts.

Also in attendance were Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, co-founders of the cryptocurrency platform Gemini, who gained fame as the aggrieved investors portrayed in The Social Network.

“The White House Ballroom is being privately funded by many generous Patriots, Great American Companies, and, yours truly,” Trump declared. “This ballroom will be happily used for generations to come!”

The ballroom is the centerpiece of Trump’s sweeping renovation of the White House since returning to office in January. His makeover has included gold-themed décor in the Oval Office and the replacement of the Rose Garden with paved stone.

Trump has also revealed plans for a monumental triumphal arch in Washington, a project nicknamed the “Arc de Trump” after AFP first reported it.