Washington, D.C. — Demolition of the White House East Wing began Monday, paving the way for a $200 million, 90,000-square-foot ballroom, a project long envisioned by President Donald Trump. The new space is expected to more than triple the size of the White House’s current largest event area, the East Room.
CNN observed heavy machinery at work, tearing down sections of the roof and interior walls. Close-up video and photographs show excavators dismantling parts of the East Wing. According to White House renderings, the ballroom will occupy this area, which has historically housed offices for first ladies. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed over the summer that the project would be funded by Trump and private donors.
The addition fulfills a 15-year ambition by the president to create a grand entertainment space on White House grounds, one that mirrors the gilded style of his private clubs. Renderings reveal a lavish interior featuring gold and crystal chandeliers, gilded Corinthian columns, a coffered ceiling with gold inlays, and a checkered marble floor. Three walls of arched windows will overlook the South Lawn, providing a striking view for guests.
During a White House reception Monday for LSU baseball teams, Trump highlighted the project. “We’re building right behind us — a ballroom. They wanted a ballroom for 150 years, and I’m giving that honor to this wonderful place,” he said, noting that construction noise may occasionally be heard during events.
The new ballroom will maintain the “theme and architectural heritage” of the neoclassical executive mansion, according to the White House. It will seat up to 650 people — more than three times the East Room’s capacity — allowing for larger receptions, dinners, and official functions. At a recent dinner with high-dollar donors, Trump emphasized that the design would be “in keeping” with the White House architecture in color and window shape, rather than introducing a starkly modern addition next to the historic building.
Trump also pointed out the lack of bureaucratic hurdles for the project. “I said, ‘How long will it take me?’” he recalled. “‘Sir, you can start tonight, you have no approvals.’ I said, ‘You gotta be kidding.’ They said, ‘Sir, this is the White House, you’re the president of the United States, you can do anything you want.’”
White House communications director Steven Cheung responded to early criticism of the project by posting historical images of White House construction during the Truman administration. At that time, the building underwent complete reconstruction after engineers found it structurally weak and in danger of collapse. “Construction has always been a part of the evolution of the White House,” Cheung wrote on X. “Critics need to understand that modernization is necessary; otherwise, you’re just living in the past.”
Trump’s plans for the East Wing are part of broader efforts to personalize and modernize the White House grounds and interiors. Previous projects have included adding large flagpoles, paving over portions of the Rose Garden, and decorating the Oval Office with gold accents. The new ballroom represents the most significant addition to White House entertainment spaces in decades, combining grandeur, functionality, and a nod to Trump’s signature style.
Construction has officially started, marking a new chapter in the evolution of the executive mansion. The White House said the East Wing will be fully modernized as part of the project, and upon completion, it will be “more beautiful than ever.”