Michelle Obama shares her reaction to East Wing demolition: 'Loss for us as a nation'

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Former first lady Michelle Obama spoke out about watching the White House’s East Wing being demolished, a historic 1942 structure making way for a $300 million ballroom under Donald Trump’s administration. 

The project replaced the former first lady’s office, the Jacqueline Kennedy Garden, and other historic spaces, prompting Obama to reflect on the loss of national traditions and question the country’s values and norms.

Michelle Obama opens up about her feelings on East Wing renovation

Michelle Obama opened up about seeing the East Wing of the White House demolished during a Tuesday (November 25) appearance on the 'Jamie Kern Lima Show' podcast. 

Michelle, who served alongside her husband, Barack Obama, from 2009 to 2017, described her feelings as she watched the demolition.

Host Jamie Kern Lima asked at the 13:30 mark, “What did it feel like for you and your body when you saw the East Wing being demolished?” 

Michelle replied, “It's not about me, it's about us and our traditions and what they stand for. I think in my body I felt confusion because I'm like, ‘Well, who are we? What do we value and who decides that?’”

She said the experience made her reflect on the nation under the current administration. “That's the thing that's going through my head a lot lately. ‘Who are we? What are the rules?’"

She added, "Because I'm confused by what are our norms and our mores, not the laws, but how do we live together? That's the part of it that hurts. It's not the house … I'm just, you know, just trying to understand the assignment."

She expressed, "And so I think I felt a loss for us as a nation. Personally, you know, that's not our house. That's the People's House.”

Donald Trump promises East Wing will be ‘more beautiful than ever’

In October, the White House confirmed it was demolishing the East Wing. On Monday, October 20, President Donald Trump announced that construction had begun on a privately funded, modern White House ballroom, which he said would cost taxpayers nothing. 

On Truth Social, Trump wrote that ground had been broken and the East Wing was being fully modernized, promising it would be “more beautiful than ever.” He added, "Completely separate from the White House itself, the East Wing is being fully modernized as part of this process, and will be more beautiful than ever when it is complete!"

He continued, "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."

He concluded, "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!"

White House spokesman Davis Ingle said, “President Trump is working 24/7 to Make America Great Again, including his historic beautification of the White House, at no taxpayer expense. These long-needed upgrades will benefit generations of future presidents and American visitors to the People’s House.”