White House fends off criticism of new ballroom construction

Earlier this week, construction workers demolished the East Wing of the White House. The Trump administration said it is building a 90,000-square-foot ballroom, with a seating capacity of 650. That’s more than three times the size of the East Room, which is currently the largest event space in the White House. In the past, large events have been held in a tent on the lawn. Trump previously said that the construction of the ballroom would have no effect on the existing building. The White House said the president and private donors are funding the project, which is supposed to be finished by the end of Trump’s term.

Is this legal? The National Capital Planning Commission is supposed to approve major renovations and construction on government buildings in D.C. However, the agency said it doesn’t have jurisdiction over demolition work.

How is the public reacting? The National Trust for Historic Preservation in the United States issued a letter urging the administration to pause the demolition until plans for the ballroom can go through the required public review process. They say they are concerned that the new construction will overwhelm the White House and disrupt the balanced classical design.

Current and former politicians including Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton posted criticisms on X.

How is the White House addressing the criticism? In response, the White House posted a statement, citing numerous examples of previous renovations. Examples include: President Franklin Roosevelt’s construction of the East Wing, President Harry Truman’s gutting of the White House interior, and President Bill Clinton’s restoration of the Executive Mansion.

The Trump administration also released a major events timeline that highlighted previous construction and renovation projects at the White House.

Dig deeper: Read Christina Grube’s report on Trump moving a Navy strike group to the Caribbean.