The entirety of the White House’s historic East Wing was demolished on October 23, making way for President Trump’s plan to construct a massive multi-million dollar ballroom in its place.
Trump initially promised that his construction wouldn’t damage the 120-year-old building, saying the ballroom would be “near it but not touching it.” But the project is now expected to be larger than initially planned, increasing the cost by at least $100 million.
The project has drawn outcry from White House historians and preservationists, who say the administration moved forward without any of the legally required public review processes. The construction began without signoff from the National Capital Planning Commission, the federal agency responsible for major renovations to regional government buildings.
A majority of Americans are against the plan, an October 2025 poll found, including 45% who “strongly” oppose it.
What was in the East Wing, and what is Trump replacing it with?
The East Wing, which was built in 1902 under President Theodore Roosevelt, was a ceremonial and public-facing space containing the offices of the First Lady and her staff. Those offices have now been relocated to other areas.
It also housed a movie theater, an underground bunker, the White House Military Office and Office of Legislative Affairs, the Jacqueline Kennedy Garden, and hallways that the First Lady decorated annually for Christmas.
The East Colonnade, known as the nation’s “front porch,” connected the East Wing to the main White House and was the entry point for 500,000 tourists annually. It was also the entry point for guests attending events.
Trump said he will build a new colonnade alongside the 90,000 sq-ft ballroom so that the White House can host major functions of up to 1,000 guests “without having to install a large and unsightly tent approximately 100 yards away from the main building entrance.”
How much will this cost, and who’s funding it?
Trump said the ballroom “is being paid for 100% by me and some friends of mine,” and that he’s raised $350 million so far from private donors and will personally “donate whatever is needed” to get it done.
Among these donors are major companies in the tech, defense, and cryptocurrency industries such as Apple, Amazon, Meta, Microsoft, Google, Coinbase, Booz Allen Hamilton, Lockheed Martin, Palantir, T-Mobile, and Comcast. He’s also taken individual donations from billionaires who supported his 2024 presidential campaign.
This funding model has sparked concern among legal experts, who warn that these donors all “want something from the government” and that private financing is not subject to transparency laws.
What is the timeline for the project?
The White House announced the project in July 2025 and began construction less than three months later, stating the ballroom would be completed “long before the end of President Trump’s term” in 2029.
Lawmakers and organizations have criticized the administration for beginning construction as millions of Americans were concerned with healthcare, housing, and hunger during the longest government shutdown in U.S. history.
House Democrats noted in a letter to the White House that these decisions were made in “complete secrecy” and without “proper consultation,” as the National Planning Commission was closed due to the shutdown.