Written by Lexx Thornton
The east wing of the once white house is now a pile of rubble. The demolition marks President Trump’s first milestone in building a 90,000-square-foot ballpark — a $300 million project the administration says is on schedule and funded entirely by private donors.
The Azeris also knew that the demolitions continued. The White House made no announcement before excavators began tearing into the east wing, which contains the east garden, family theater, east colonnade and office colonnade, east colonnade and office suites. A White House official approved NPR’s plan to replace the “Living Edge” structure without public review or consultation.
Press secretary Caroline Leavitt said the president “wants to do right by the People’s House,” adding that the new east wing will be “more modern and beautiful than before.” The remodeled wing will feature upgraded offices, enhanced security for the underground bunker and a grand ballroom for state events — a feature Trump has long claimed the white house lacks.
The national trust for historic preservation has called for an immediate hiatus until it can go through the legally required public review process. Critics warn that the expansion could “degrade” the original architecture and permanently alter the historic balance of the White House.
Despite these objections, management insists no approval is required for the demolition. The project has reportedly secured $200 million in private donations to date, with contributions from major corporations including Amazon, Google, Meta and Lockheed Martin.
As heavy machinery continues to clear the east wing site, questions, transparency, and whether one of America’s most iconic buildings could undergo such a sweeping change in so much obscurity.
