WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Donald J. Trump has begun a large-scale renovation project at the White House, highlighted by the addition of a $250 million, 90,000-square-foot ballroom that will replace part of the East Wing.
Construction crews began partial demolition of the East Wing this week, even as formal plans have yet to be submitted to the National Capital Planning Commission — the federal agency that oversees major design changes to historic government buildings.
According to the Trump administration, the new ballroom will be privately funded through donations from “patriotic Americans and great companies,” with no taxpayer money being used. The space is expected to accommodate nearly 1,000 guests and serve as a new venue for state dinners, receptions, and official events.
President Trump said the project will bring the White House “into the modern age of hospitality” and eliminate the need for large outdoor tents traditionally used during major gatherings.
However, preservationists and ethics watchdogs are raising concerns about the move. Critics argue that the East Wing’s demolition could irreversibly alter the historic fabric of the White House. Others are calling for greater transparency on who is financing the renovation and what influence those donors may hold.
White House officials insist the project follows in the tradition of presidential updates dating back more than two centuries. They say construction will be completed before the end of Trump’s term in January 2029.
The National Capital Planning Commission has not yet scheduled a review of the project.
Past Presidential Remodels
While Trump’s new ballroom would mark one of the largest physical expansions of the White House in modern history, he isn’t the first president to make major changes.
- Theodore Roosevelt (1902) built the West Wing, moving the president’s offices out of the main residence.
- William Howard Taft (1909) added the Oval Office, now a defining feature of the building.
- Franklin D. Roosevelt (1942) constructed the East Wing, the same area now being partially demolished for the ballroom.
- Harry S. Truman (1948–1952) rebuilt the entire interior structure and added the Truman Balcony, a once-controversial feature that remains iconic today.
- John F. Kennedy (1961) and Jacqueline Kennedy led an extensive restoration that established the White House Historical Association.
- Barack Obama (2010) completed a major modernization of the West Wing, updating infrastructure and communications systems.
From fire damage to modernization, nearly every administration has left its mark on the White House. Trump’s new ballroom continues that long tradition — though with debate as fierce as ever about how far a president should go in reshaping America’s most symbolic home.