Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent defends East Wing demolition citing possible mold concerns

WASHINGTON, DC: Following the criticisms surrounding the demolition of the East Wing of the White House for President Donald Trump’s ballroom project, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent defended the move, saying he "completely endorses" it. 

He also dismissed concerns about the loss of the historic structure, claiming that the decision could have been made out of caution. 

Treasury Secretary  Scott Bessent justifies East Wing demolition

“Construction is moving at warp speed, and I think it’s going to be something that all Americans can be proud of,” Scott Bessent said on Sunday, October 26, on NBC News' 'Meet the Press'.

When the host Kristen Welker asked him why Trump didn’t tell the public that the entire East Wing would be torn down, he defended the president, saying asbestos or mold could have led to the decision.

“I completely endorse what the president is doing here with the ballroom, and I assume that maybe parts of the East Wing could have been asbestos, could have been mold, could have not fit with the design,” Bessent said.

He pointed out that the construction was a judgment call from Trump, who is a master builder, and the ballroom will be a “magnificent structure.”

Bessent added that America has a history of presidents renovating and adding to the White House, including President Thomas Jefferson, whose designs of the East and West Colonnades in 1801 drew criticism for reflecting “aristocratic tendencies.”

Lack of clarity on asbestos risk

It is unclear whether the East Wing had asbestos or mold, but the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization, a nonprofit aimed at preventing asbestos exposure, has called on the administration to be transparent with its safety measures during the demolition to “reaffirm its commitment to prevention, accountability, and the protection of public health in all federal construction projects.”

The organisation also highlighted that the East Wing was built during a period when extensive asbestos was used for government buildings.

Criticisms over demolition of East Wing

The demolition of the structure began on October 20 to make way for Donald Trump's dream ballroom project. Since then, preservation groups have expressed concerns about the construction due to little communication over how it would affect the structure of the main building. 

“The ballroom construction project wouldn’t interfere with the current building,” Trump said in July.

The Republican leader was widely criticized for his decision to move forward without the approval of Congress or the necessary federal committees.

Previously, the White House assured that the ballroom would be mostly separate from the main building, would match its architecture, and the East Wing would not be entirely demolished.

However, the photos that have emerged suggest otherwise, where the portion has been flattened and the 90,000-square-foot event space will be nearly twice the size of the executive building, which measures 55,000 square feet.