A portion of the White House's East Wing is currently being demolished to make space for president Donald Trump's neoclassical ballroom, with construction teams using a backhoe to rip through the facade.
In a photo shared with US newspaper The Washington Post, a demolition crew stands in front of the facade as parts of the structure are being torn down, with rubble and torn-out window frames covering the ground.
The facade is being torn down
According to information given to the newspaper by a person who witnessed the event, sounds of the demolition could be heard on campus and "a cluster of people, including members of the Secret Service, stood on the steps of the Treasury Department to watch the construction unfold".
When the project was first announced in July of this year, the White House stated:Â "The site of the new ballroom will be where the small, heavily changed, and reconstructed East Wing currently sits."
In a post on his own social network, Truth Social, Trump said the new building would be "completely separate" from the White House.
"I am pleased to announce that ground has been broken on the White House grounds to build the new, big, beautiful White House Ballroom," he stated.
"Completely separate from the White House itself, the East Wing is being fully modernized as part of this process, and will be more beautiful than ever when it is complete!"
The $200 million ballroom project will be privately funded, according to Trump.
"For more than 150 years, every President has dreamt about having a Ballroom at the White House to accommodate people for grand parties, State Visits, etc," he said.
"I am honored to be the first President to finally get this much-needed project underway — with zero cost to the American Taxpayer! The White House Ballroom is being privately funded by many generous Patriots, Great American Companies, and, yours truly."
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VIDEO of the White House East Wing changes via @CBSNews. "Over the next few days, it's going to be demolished," Trump told us during ballroom dinner last week. "Everything out there is coming down, and we're replacing it with one of the most beautiful ballrooms that you've ever… pic.twitter.com/LYtnhAOcjZ
— Jennifer Jacobs (@JenniferJJacobs) October 20, 2025
Video shows the demolition underwayÂ
Renders of the exterior of the White House State Ballroom, which will be built on the site of the East Wing, show a building around double the size of the current structure and with entirely different facades.
The 90,000-square-foot (8,360 square metres) ballroom building will house major events with a seated capacity of 650 people. The East Wing cureently contains office space for the First Lady and staff, and a visitor's entrance.
It had said that construction on the expansion would begin in September 2025, and was expected to be completed "long before the end of President Trump's term".
Trump also recently announced plans for "Arc de Trump", a proposed classical style triumphal arch to mark the celebration of America's 250th birthday next year.