Construction crews began demolishing portions of the White House’s East Wing, constructed in 1942, on October 20, 2025, to build a 90,000-square-foot ballroom for state events, funded privately by President Donald Trump and donors at a cost of $250 million.
“I am pleased to announce that ground has been broken on the White House grounds to build the new, big, beautiful White House Ballroom… The White House Ballroom is being privately funded by many generous Patriots, Great American Companies, and, yours truly.” President Trump wrote
The project disrupts first ladies’ offices and skips standard historic preservation reviews amid a government shutdown now in its 20th day, with critics highlighting the East Wing’s historical significance from Eleanor Roosevelt’s era to WWII bunkers.
However, Presidents have been renovating and expanding the White House for more than 100 years. In 1902, President Theodore Roosevelt built the West Wing .
In 1909, President William Howard Taft added the first Oval Office during a West Wing expansion.
In 1933, President Franklin D. Roosevelt added a second floor to the West Wing; in 1934, he relocated the Oval Office to its current spot, completed the East Wing, and built an indoor swimming pool.
In 1948, President Harry Truman began completely gutting and rebuilding the White House interior, preserving only the exterior walls.
In 1970, President Nixon converted FDR’s pool into the press briefing room; in 1973, he added a bowling alley in the basement.
In 2009, President Obama upgraded the tennis court into a full basketball court.
Since taking office, Trump has redecorated the Rose Garden, Oval Office and is in the process of renovating the Palm Room
