The full East Wing of the White House will be torn down as part of the process to build a new ballroom proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump, a White House official said on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe can confirm that the entire East Wing is going to be modernized and renovated to, I guess, support the … ballroom project,\u201d the official said.<\/p>\n
Demolition workers began tearing down the section of the White House that holds offices for the first lady and other staff on Monday. The official said the demolition process is likely to be finished within two weeks.<\/p>\n
Open this photo in gallery:<\/a><\/p>\n Heavy machinery tears down a section of the East Wing of the White House to make way for construction on President Donald Trump’s planned ballroom in Washington on Oct. 22, 2025.BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI\/AFP\/Getty Images<\/p>\n The action contradicts Trump\u2019s promise earlier this year that the ballroom project, which he has wanted to build for some time, would not touch the existing East Wing structure.<\/p>\n On Tuesday, the White House said it will submit plans for the US$250-million White House ballroom project to a body that oversees federal building construction, even though demolition work has already begun.<\/p>\n The demolition of part of one of the most historical buildings in the United States has drawn criticism and sadness from Trump\u2019s critics, including many Democrats. The White House has dismissed the criticism as \u201cmanufactured outrage.\u201d<\/p>\n Trump hosts dinner for wealthy donors to new White House ballroom<\/a><\/p>\n But critics, aghast about images of the White House walls crumbling after Trump had pledged the project would not interfere with the existing landmark, said a review process should have taken place before the work began.<\/p>\n The White House still intends to submit those plans to the National Capital Planning Commission, which oversees federal construction in Washington and neighbouring states, a White House official told Reuters.<\/p>\n \u201cConstruction plans have not yet been submitted to the National Capital Planning Commission but will be soon,\u201d the official said, adding that the NCPC does not have jurisdiction over demolition work.<\/p>\n The commission is now led by Will Scharf, a White House aide.<\/p>\n Asked why the demolition of East Wing walls was occurring despite Trump\u2019s promise that it would not affect the existing building, the official said modernization work was required in the East Wing and changes had always been a possibility.<\/p>\n \u201cThe scope and size was always subject to vary as the project developed,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n The National Trust for Historic Preservation on Tuesday asked the Trump administration to pause the demolition until the planning commission review was completed. Its letter expressed concern that the proposed 90,000 square foot ballroom \u201cwill overwhelm the White House itself.\u201d The White House is 55,000 square feet.<\/p>\n