Trump’s East Wing demolition is nothing like previous White House renovations

What used to be the East Wing of the White House, on October 23, 2025, in Washington, DC. | Eric Lee/Getty Images The White House’s East Wing is gone. With its demise, President Donald Trump continues to rewrite history, including the traditions of how a US president can take a bulldozer to the “people’s house.” For Trump, the East Wing had to be demolished to make way for a 90,000-square foot ballroom to host foreign dignitaries and 999 guests. It’s a massive $350 million project he said will be paid for by private donors.  The viral images of the demolition awakened intense emotion