Trump’s $300 Million White House Makeover Sparks Outrage After East Wing Demolished

WASHINGTON – The White House skyline looks shockingly different this week after satellite images confirmed the complete demolition of the East Wing a move ordered by US President Donald Trump to make way for a $300 million presidential ballroom.

The satellite photos, released by Planet Labs, show a patch of rubble where the East Wing once stood, marking one of the most radical architectural changes to America’s most iconic building in over a century.

A Surprise Move That Went Beyond Original Plans

When Trump first announced the ballroom project in July, he promised it would be “near the White House but not touching it.” Yet, without warning, bulldozers moved in earlier this month, flattening the 123-year-old East Wing a section that had long housed the First Lady’s offices and served as the main entrance for visitors and guests.

The demolition stunned historians and preservationists alike. Trump later justified his decision, saying that after consulting architects, “really knocking it down” made more sense than partial reconstruction.

He insisted the grand new ballroom was essential to host state dinners and events, replacing the “temporary tents” often set up on the White House lawn.

The Price Tag And The Donors Behind It

What began as a $200 million proposal has now ballooned to $300 million. Despite the eye-watering figure, the White House claims taxpayers won’t foot the bill.

Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that the entire project will be covered by private donors and Trump himself. Among the listed contributors are American corporate giants Apple, Google, Amazon, Meta, and Palantir, alongside defence contractor Lockheed Martin.

Other individual donors include billionaire Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick’s family and tech entrepreneurs Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss the famous twins from “The Social Network.”

“How much am I donating? I won’t be able to tell you until it’s finished,” Trump told reporters. “I’ll donate whatever’s needed.”

A Historic Loss For The People’s House

While the West Wing remains the power hub of the presidency, the East Wing held deep symbolic and historic value. Originally built during Theodore Roosevelt’s presidency in 1902, it underwent a major renovation in 1942 under Franklin D. Roosevelt.

For decades, it served as the home of the First Lady’s staff and the starting point for public tours a gateway for ordinary Americans to experience the heart of their democracy.

The White House Historical Association confirmed it worked to digitally preserve the East Wing before its destruction. In a statement, it said it had completed a “comprehensive digital scanning project and photography to create a historic record” while ensuring “all artifacts were safely preserved and stored.”

Preservationists Call For Accountability

Heritage groups have reacted with alarm. The National Trust for Historic Preservation urged the president to halt the demolition, warning that the new construction’s “massing and height” could “overwhelm the White House itself.”

Despite these calls, the Trump administration maintains that it acted within its legal rights and did not require approval from the agency overseeing government buildings in Washington.

While many presidents have made upgrades to the White House, none have undertaken anything on this scale since the Truman-era reconstruction of the 1940s.

Now, as the dust settles over Washington, the question remains: how much history is worth trading for grandeur?

{Source:EWN}

Follow Joburg ETC on Facebook, Twitter , TikTok and Instagram

For more News in Johannesburg, visit joburgetc.com