Photos and reports from the Associated Press released Oct. 22 showcased excavators tearing through the White House’s East Wing. A month later, Washington locals continue to express outrage and questions.
The demolition is making way for President Donald Trump’s 90,000 square feet State Ballroom, which will replace the tent used to host major functions for the White House.
Originally constructed in 1902, the East Wing is known for housing the White House’s visitor center, Office of Legislative Affairs, First Lady’s Office, the White House Social Office, offices for the military aides assigned to the president and the White House Family Theater.
According to the AP, approval for the demolition and ballroom never went through the National Capital Planning Commission, which approves major construction and renovation projects for the Washington area and government buildings.
As of Nov. 23, searching “White House,” “East Wing,” “State Ballroom” or “Trump” on the NCPC website yields either no results or nothing relating to the project.
The White House on Nov. 17, 2025, in Washington, D.C.
Pete Souza, a former assistant professor in the School of Visual Communication, the former chief official White House photographer during former President Barack Obama’s administration and official photographer for former President Ronald Reagan, said previous presidents had to go through that process.
“Maybe it needed renovations, but it didn’t need to be demolished,” Souza said. “That’s ludicrous that the East Wing needed to be demolished. What’s next? Is he going to knock down the West Wing?”
According to The White House Historical Association, past White House renovations from former presidents include Thomas Jefferson’s colonnades, Theodore Roosevelt’s West Wing, Harry Truman’s balcony, Richard Nixon’s press room and Obama’s basketball court. Former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy’s Rose Garden was also built.
Souza said typically historical committees, such as the WHHA and the General Services Administration, have a chance to give their opinion on renovating government buildings.
“They all weigh in on what’s possible, and none of that was done,” Souza said. “(Trump) just made the decision to knock it down on his own. I think that’s what caused me to be shocked.”
According to a statement announcing the State Ballroom from the White House released July 31, Trump had multiple meetings with White House Staff, the National Park Service, the White House Military Office and the United States Secret Service to discuss the project.
In addition, the statement also added the project, which began in September, is expected to be finished before the end of Trump’s presidency and has $200 million in funds from donors.
However, since the initial announcement, the costs of the ballroom have increased to $300 million, according to ABC News.
“I think that it’s essentially just a way for him to get more money from private donors in a quasi legal way, which is kind of obvious to me especially since this week he pumped the cost of another 100 million dollars,” Mike Horner, a man who was protesting in front of the White House, said. “To me, it’s just another grift.”
Mike Horner protesting outside of the White House on Oct. 25, 2025, in Washington, D.C.
Robin Galbraith, a retired Washington school teacher and current protester who has been visiting the park in front of the White House almost daily, said work toward the ballroom’s creation started while the government was shut down, at the same time when the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program was under the threat of disappearing and health care premiums were tripling.
“I think a lot of people don’t know much about (the East Wing),” Robin Galbraith said. “The First Lady’s office has been in the East Wing, which I think is kind of symbolic of him. The press hasn’t done a very good job of talking about how, essentially, it seems Mr. and Mrs. Trump are separated. She’s not here anymore.”
Souza said the East Wing was a focal point for the arts, especially with films. During the Obama presidency, movies such as “Lincoln,” “42” and “Red Tails” were shown in the Family Theater.
The WHHA said in an Oct. 22 statement when the announcement of the State Ballroom was made they supported the preservation of the East Wing. To do so, they created a comprehensive digital scanning project, and photography and historic artifacts from the East Wing have been preserved and stored.
Souza expressed disappointment in response to the statement because the WHHA’s mission is to preserve and protect the White House.
“That (statement) means they knew about this, and I think it’s disappointing that no one from that association alerted the public in advance that the President of the United States was intending to demolish the East Wing,” Souza said.
Horner said seeing the East Wing being gone in person is shocking, and the situation will get more absurd when the ballroom, which is supposed to be three times the size of the White House, is finished.
“I think it’s a perfect analogy for Trump’s destruction of our government and our country,” Horner said. “I mean, it’s just too perfect, destroying a third of the White House. It is just a perfect analogy for what’s going on in this country right now.”