Trump admits East Wing demolition wasn't necessary for ballroom project but ‘it looked like hell’
WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump has admitted that his decision to demolish the East Wing of the White House to make way for the ballroom project was not strictly necessary.
However, he justified the decision by claiming that the building would have looked like hell and in poor condition. Trump made these statements while discussing his architectural choices and renovation projects.
Trump justifies East Wing demolition
Trump made these statements on Monday, November 10, to Fox News’ Laura Ingraham show.
When asked about former first lady Michelle Obama’s criticism of the destruction of the East Wing, Trump said, "First of all, the East Wing was a beautiful little, tiny structure that was built many years ago, that was renovated and expanded and despanded and columns ripped out."
"It had nothing to do with the original building. It was a poor, sad sight, and I could’ve built the ballroom around it, but it would not have been– we’re building one of the greatest ballrooms in the world. By the way, zero money spent by the government. Zero.”
He added, “We’re gonna have the best ballroom anywhere in the world, and I built a lot of them. You know that. You know a lot of them. This will be one of the greatest ballrooms in the world.”
Trump dismisses reports about Melania's disapproval
When asked about reports about Melania Trump’s dislike for the idea, he said, “She loved her little, tiny office, but you know what? She’s very smart. In about one day, she– if you would ask her now, she says it’s great,” replied Trump.
“The East Wing sounds good, right? It sounds good. But the East Wing, that building was renovated 20 times, including adding a floor to the top, which was terrible. It was out of common brick, little tiny windows, it looked like hell.”
He concluded, “It had nothing to do with the original building, and I didn’t want to sacrifice a great ballroom for an OK ballroom by leaving it right smack in the middle.”
The demolition of the historic structure
On October 20, demolition began on the East Wing to make way for the lavish new 90,000 sq ft ballroom, a gold-accented structure inspired by his Mar-a-Lago resort.
While initial plans suggested the East Wing would remain partially intact, the president confirmed that the entire structure would be replaced to accommodate the grand ballroom.
Images captured revealed a backhoe ripping through the East Wing walls, with dust and debris filling the air. The once-pristine structure, built in 1902 and expanded in 1942 to house offices for First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, is now leveled.
