University of Kwazulu-Natal

Trump Cranks Up His White House Destruction Job As Backlash Rages

Bonisiwe Shabane
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trump cranks up his white house destruction job as backlash rages

The destruction of the East Wing of the White House to make way for Donald Trump’s gaudy $250 million ballroom is continuing at a furious pace. New photos published by The Washington Post show a construction team further tearing down parts of the historic building, as outrage grows over the extent of the destruction for a vanity project demanded by... “Donald Trump doesn’t want you to see this picture,” California Gov. Gavin Newsom wrote on X while sharing an image of the almost entirely flattened wing. “He’s literally destroying the White House.” Trump’s multimillion-dollar ballroom, which has not received the usual federal commission approvals, is being constructed as waves of federal employees go unpaid during the government shutdown, or have already been laid off by the...

At the same time, millions of Americans continue to struggle with a cost-of-living crisis. The White House previously assured the public that the ballroom would be “substantially separated” from the main White House while still being “almost identical” in architectural style. However, the 90,000-square-foot project is now set to dwarf the main building and end up nearly double its size, the Associated Press reported. The White House has fired back at criticism over the demolition of a section of the historic building to make way for Donald Trump’s beloved $250 million ballroom. Photos on Monday showed construction equipment ripping down the entrance of the East Wing of the White House, an area that has long housed the offices of the first lady. On Monday, the president talked up his 90,000-square foot ballroom, which, with a capacity of 999 people, will be covered by bulletproof glass.

“They’ve wanted a ballroom for 150 years,” Trump said during an event celebrating baseball champions Louisiana State University and Louisiana State University-Shreveport in the East Room at the White House. “And I’m giving that honor to this wonderful place. You’re gonna see a ballroom the likes of which... I don’t think it’ll be topped.” Trump then added on Truth Social that the “ground has been broken” on the “much-needed project.” WASHINGTON ― President Donald Trump shocked historic preservationists and incensed Democratic critics with the demolition on the East Wing of the White House this week to make room for a $300 million ballroom he...

Demolition crews started on Monday, Oct. 20, by tearing down the East Wing's east entrance. The work expanded to the entire East Wing, historically used as office space for the first lady and her staff. The full demolition is expected to be finished in the coming days, with construction ongoing throughout most of Trump's second term. The project has raised questions whether Trump has the legal authority to decide unilaterally to bulldoze a large chunk of "The People's House" ‒ and to build a massive 90,000-square foot structure in its... Perhaps surprisingly, there are few legal restraints to stop him.

All it took was a president willing to break from the way construction projects on the White House grounds are usually handled. The White House, first built between 1792 and 1800, is owned by the American people and overseen by the National Park Service. The East Wing, originally known as the East Terrace, was built in 1902 and significantly expanded in 1942. When President Donald Trump reflected last week on the looming construction of his White House ballroom, the longtime real estate developer was practically giddy about the lack of red tape. He noted his New York projects often took years to break ground. “They said, ‘Sir, you can start tonight,’” Trump said.

“I said, what are you talking about? ‘You have zero zoning conditions. You’re the president of’ – I said, you got to be kidding.” The president continued to marvel: “He said, ‘Sir, this is the White House. You’re the president of the United States. You can do anything you want.’”

Trump has now done what he wants — in ways that are causing plenty of consternation. Images of the demolition of the existing East Wing, where the new ballroom will be located, have spurred apoplexy among Trump’s detractors and growing criticism from architectural and preservation groups. A demolition job that began Monday with the disappearance of the White House’s eastern entrance advanced Tuesday with the destruction of much of the East Wing, according to a photograph obtained by The Washington...

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The destruction of the East Wing of the White House to make way for Donald Trump’s gaudy $250 million ballroom is continuing at a furious pace. New photos published by The Washington Post show a construction team further tearing down parts of the historic building, as outrage grows over the extent of the destruction for a vanity project demanded by... “Donald Trump doesn’t want you to see this pic...

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At the same time, millions of Americans continue to struggle with a cost-of-living crisis. The White House previously assured the public that the ballroom would be “substantially separated” from the main White House while still being “almost identical” in architectural style. However, the 90,000-square-foot project is now set to dwarf the main building and end up nearly double its size, the Associ...

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“They’ve wanted a ballroom for 150 years,” Trump said during an event celebrating baseball champions Louisiana State University and Louisiana State University-Shreveport in the East Room at the White House. “And I’m giving that honor to this wonderful place. You’re gonna see a ballroom the likes of which... I don’t think it’ll be topped.” Trump then added on Truth Social that the “ground has been ...

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Demolition crews started on Monday, Oct. 20, by tearing down the East Wing's east entrance. The work expanded to the entire East Wing, historically used as office space for the first lady and her staff. The full demolition is expected to be finished in the coming days, with construction ongoing throughout most of Trump's second term. The project has raised questions whether Trump has the legal aut...

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All it took was a president willing to break from the way construction projects on the White House grounds are usually handled. The White House, first built between 1792 and 1800, is owned by the American people and overseen by the National Park Service. The East Wing, originally known as the East Terrace, was built in 1902 and significantly expanded in 1942. When President Donald Trump reflected ...