White House defends East Wing demolition for Trump’s $400M ballroom
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The White House said Thursday that saving the East Wing is not possible due to serious structural problems, as officials advocated demolishing that wing while announcing details of President Donald Trump’s planned $400 million ballroom.
Josh Fisher, director of the White House Executive Office, said it was more economical to demolish the historic East Wing rather than renovate it, citing the unstable colonnade, water leaks and mold contamination.
“Due to these and other factors, cost analysis has proven that demolition and reconstruction provide the lowest total cost of ownership and the most effective long-term strategy,” Fisher said during a meeting with the National Capital Planning Commission, which was tasked with approving the project. he said.
Commission chairman Will Scharf, who is also a White House official, told reporters he believes the project will eventually be approved.
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Architect Shalom Baranes points to an image on a billboard during a meeting of the National Capitol Planning Commission discussing the White House ballroom project on Jan. 8, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Allison Robber)
Scharf argued during the meeting that the White House needs a large, elegant space for important functions. The President is King George III of Great Britain. When he hosts distinguished guests like Charles, he said, “they will most likely be hosted in a tent full of porta-potties on the South Lawn.”
In December, the National Trust for Historic Preservation sued to halt construction of the ballroom, accusing the Trump administration of bypassing mandatory inspections and failing to seek congressional approval before demolishing the East Wing.
Carol Quillen, the trust’s president and CEO, said Thursday’s presentation by the White House was “a good and necessary first step” while urging the administration to comply with all legally required review and approval processes before beginning construction.
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An excavator works to clear rubble following the collapse of the East Wing of the White House on October 23, 2025 in Washington, D.C. (Eric Lee/Getty Images)
A more formal review of the project, including public testimony and votes, is expected after the White House presents a more detailed proposal.
The project’s architect, Shalom Baranes, who was tapped by Trump in December to lead the next phase of the ballroom project, gave the commission a detailed presentation that included drawings of the ballroom and images of the White House complex with the addition.
Baranes suggested the design might include adding a second story to the West Wing colonnade to help make it more uniform with the new ballroom on the White House’s east side, but cautioned that this would dramatically impact the space outside the Oval Office.
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Construction of the ballroom at the White House resumed on December 17. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
In addition to the planned ballroom, the project will also improve visitor access to the White House and include improvements across from Lafayette Park, officials say.
Phil Mendelson, a Democrat on the commission and chairman of the D.C. Council, asked whether the ballroom’s size and location had been consolidated and said the planned ceiling height of 38 to 40 feet would be “too high” for the current building.
Baranes responded that “anything is possible” but noted that the plans had already been thoroughly reviewed.
Mendelson also asked why the idea wasn’t presented to the commission before the East Wing was demolished in October.
In response, Fisher said some aspects of the project were of a “top secret nature” and should be treated as such.
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At the White House in Washington, D.C., officials are seen advocating demolition of the East Wing and President Donald Trump is seen outlining plans for a privately financed $400 million ballroom. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
The White House announced in July that the 90,000-square-foot space would be built at a then-estimated cost of $200 million. Trump said the project was privately financed.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
