Demolition crews have begun tearing down part of the East Wing of the White House to make way for a new ballroom ordered by US President Donald Trump, sparking widespread outrage online and among lawmakers, The Washington Post reported on Tuesday.

Photos obtained by The Post showed visible demolition work, with sections of the East Wing façade stripped away and construction equipment on site. The outlet cited two eyewitnesses who confirmed that heavy machinery began operating over the weekend. Similar images published by the New York Post showed portions of the historic exterior removed.

🇺🇸 🏛️ The White House on Monday started tearing down part of the East Wing to build President Donald #Trump's ballroom, despite lacking approval for construction from the federal agency that oversees such projects.

Read more ➡️ https://t.co/ByffQ5XLmf

📸 AP pic.twitter.com/04Eb7VmQSZ

— FRANCE 24 English (@France24_en) October 21, 2025

The White House has not commented on the reports, but Trump confirmed the development in a post on his Truth Social platform. "Ground has been broken on the White House," he wrote. "I am honored to be the first President to finally get this much-needed project underway, with zero cost to the American Taxpayer! The White House Ballroom is being privately funded by many generous Patriots, Great American Companies, and, yours truly."

Trump's grand ballroom

Speaking earlier Monday during a ceremony honoring the NCAA champion Louisiana State University baseball team, Trump mentioned the ongoing construction. "I didn't know I'd be standing here right now because, right on the other side, you have a lot of construction going on, which you might hear periodically," he said. He added that his administration was building "the most beautiful ballroom in the country."

Plans for the $250 million expansion surfaced in July, when the White House press office said the new facility would cover about 90,000 square feet and seat up to 650 people. Trump said at the time that "in the White House, for 150 years, they've wanted to have a ballroom," adding, "I'm good at building things and we're going to build quickly and on time. It'll be beautiful, top, top of the line."

In August, reports indicated that construction would begin in September, with completion targeted before the end of Trump's second term in January 2029. The president previously insisted that the project would not "interfere with the current building," saying, "It'll be near it but not touching it – and pays total respect to the existing building, which I'm the biggest fan of. It's my favorite. It's my favorite place. I love it."

This is a photo of the East Wing of the White House. Trump once said, “It won't interfere with the current building. It'll be near it but not touching it..." How dare that fucking piece of shit do this. Stop the project & make him pay to restore it. Then evict him. pic.twitter.com/cvTTl6eirf

— Henry M. Rosenberg (@DoctorHenryCT) October 20, 2025

Earlier this month, Trump hosted a private dinner at the White House for donors contributing to the ballroom's construction. Guests, including representatives from Amazon, Apple, Meta, Google, Microsoft, Palantir, and Lockheed Martin, were shown the site through the East Room windows. During the event, Trump reportedly described the planned venue as featuring bulletproof glass, a 1,000-person capacity, and the ability to host future presidential inaugurations.

Vanity project

The project's unveiling has triggered a wave of criticism. Democratic Congressman Mark Takano introduced legislation that would prohibit federal spending on White House construction during a government shutdown, unless it relates to safety or health measures. Former Republican congressman Joe Walsh denounced the project as an "utter desecration", writing on X, "If I ran for President in 2028, I'd run on taking a bulldozer to Trump's ballroom, an utter desecration of the people's house."

If I ran for President in 2028, I’d run on taking a bulldozer to Trump’s ballroom, an utter desecration of the peoples’ house. In fact, I’d invite the American people one weekend to bring their own sledgehammers & crowbars to the White House to help tear that abomination down. https://t.co/gK9JTdaVGB

— Joe Walsh (@WalshFreedom) October 20, 2025

Human rights attorney Qasim Rashid also weighed in, writing, "Wealth & income inequality is at record highs in America, but glad we're spending $250m on a vanity project."

The ballroom, one of the largest additions to the White House in over a century, is allegedly being privately financed by Trump and several undisclosed donors, a move critics say blurs the line between private influence and the public integrity of America's most symbolic residence.

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