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First ladies made history in the East Wing. It was razed for Trump’s ballroom.

October 22, 2025

The Trump administration has begun demolishing the East Wing of the White House to make way for a $250 million privately-funded ballroom, sparking concerns from historians about the loss of significant American history. The East Wing houses the Office of the First Lady, which was first professionalized by Eleanor Roosevelt and has served as the operational base for numerous first ladies' initiatives throughout history. Despite President Trump's earlier assurance that the ballroom construction "won't interfere with the current building," bulldozers have begun tearing down the East Wing, with funding coming from major corporations that have business with the Trump administration.

Who is affected

  • First ladies and their staff who would traditionally work in the East Wing
  • Historians and preservationists concerned about the loss of historical spaces
  • Former East Wing staffers who described the demolition as "jarring" and a "gut punch"
  • Members of the Nixon administration who installed a "time capsule" that may be destroyed
  • Women's groups and other organizations that historically interacted with first ladies in the East Wing

What action is being taken

  • Bulldozers are actively tearing down the East Wing of the White House
  • The Trump administration is constructing a $250 million ballroom in its place
  • Private companies with business before the Trump administration are financing the ballroom construction
  • The White House is dismissing criticism of the demolition as "manufactured outrage"
  • Historians are raising alarms about the destruction of important American history

Why it matters

  • The East Wing has housed the Office of the First Lady since Eleanor Roosevelt professionalized the role
  • It served as the operational base for significant initiatives by first ladies including Laura Bush's literacy efforts and Michelle Obama's "Let's Move" campaign
  • The space represented the acknowledgment of presidential spouses' significant contributions
  • The East Wing has historical significance for women's advancement in American political life
  • According to historian Katherine A.S. Sibley, the demolition suggests the current White House "does not think that the first lady does anything of value"

What's next

  • No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: The 19th