Trump defends East Wing demolition, says new White House ballroom ‘will be magnificent’

Trump defends White House demolition

President Donald Trump on Wednesday defended the ongoing demolition of the White House’s East Wing to make way for a new presidential ballroom, calling it “a necessary and beautiful transformation.”

Demolition work began on Monday (October 20), removing offices traditionally used by the first lady and senior staff. The administration confirmed that plans for the ballroom would be submitted for review by the National Capital Planning Commission, which oversees major federal projects in Washington.

Trump said the decision came after extensive consultation. “We determined that after really a tremendous amount of study with some of the best architects in the world,” he said. “The East Wing was not much left from the original... It was a very small building, and rather than allowing that to hurt a very expensive, beautiful building that frankly they'd been after for years.”

Holding up images of the proposed design, Trump added, “We’re also working with the military on it because they want to make sure everything’s perfect... This obviously would be the biggest change. But this was something they’ve wanted for at least 150 years.”

Clarifying concerns over preservation, Trump said, “In order to do it properly, we had to take down the existing structure... We don’t touch the White House. That’s a bridge, a glass bridge going from the White House to the ballroom.”