Fact Check: Did East Wing demolition destroy FDR’s 'A house owned by Americans' quote plaque?

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump's lavish project, the ballroom, has grabbed a lot of attention. The demolition of the East Wing of the White House on Monday, October 20, has created a lot of headlines and is still ongoing.

Now, a viral post claims that the famous President Franklin D Roosevelt quote, "I never forget that I live in a house owned by all the American people and that I have been given their trust," engraved there, is now bulldozed. The post has already raised a lot of eyebrows. So, let's find out if there's any truth to the claim. 

Claim: Trump tore down the plaque with FDR's quote during East Wing demolition

On Thursday, October 24, Patrick S Tomlinson, whose X (formerly Twitter) handle is @stealthygeek, shared a post featuring an image of the FDR quote plaque with the engraving.

The caption of the post claimed that the "plaque in the East Wing of the White House has been torn down by Donald Trump."

Fact Check: The FDR plaque was not bulldozed during East Wing demolition

Contrary to circulating claims, the plaque quoting Franklin D Roosevelt was not bulldozed or removed during the East Wing overhaul. The quote remains engraved on a stone wall at the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial in Washington, DC. 

No official White House statement or credible media source has reported otherwise. 

A guide to the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial and the Second Term Room

For those unfamiliar with the area or who have never visited as tourists, the Franklin D Roosevelt Memorial is located next to the Washington, Tidal Basin, more than a mile from the White House. The memorial is divided into four sections, each representing one of Roosevelt’s presidential terms. 

The plaque quoting Roosevelt's "I never forget that I live in a house owned by all the American people and that I have been given their trust" is located in the “Second Term Room,” which covers the years 1937 through 1941.

The engraving remains intact and sits near a George Segal sculpture titled “Fireside Chat.” Even the National Park Service website provides a step-by-step guide for visitors, and photographs of the stone wall and inscription can be found on travel blogs for those planning a visit.

Trump announces progress on privately funded White House ballroom

Donald Trump confirmed that $350 million has already been raised for the project, noting that he “has received such positive and overwhelming support for the ballroom that he continues to receive donations.” A White House official added that the project’s estimated cost remains $300 million but declined to comment on how the additional $50 million in funds will be used.

“For more than 150 years, every President has dreamt about having a Ballroom at the White House to accommodate people for grand parties, State Visits, etc,” Trump wrote on Truth Social on Monday. 

“I am honored to be the first President to finally get this much-needed project underway with zero cost to the American Taxpayer! The White House Ballroom is being privately funded by many generous Patriots, Great American Companies, and, yours truly. This Ballroom will be happily used for Generations to come!” the Republican leader added.