Hillary Clinton melted down online after footage surfaced of construction crews tearing into the White House’s East Wing as part of President Donald Trump’s plan to replace the historic section with what he called a “big, beautiful ballroom.”
The Trump administration laughed off what it described as another round of “manufactured outrage” from the left.
The $250 million ballroom project, announced by Trump in July, will create a 25,000-square-foot venue meant for formal events and state dinners.
Renderings released by the administration show an extravagant design inspired by Trump’s signature style, including crystal chandeliers, gold inlays, and ornate columns reminiscent of his Mar-a-Lago resort.
Demolition of the East Wing began Monday morning, signaling the start of construction for what officials have described as the most significant architectural change to the White House in decades.
Trump’s initial announcement indicated that part of the East Wing might remain.
“It won’t interfere with the current building,” he said in July. “It’ll be near it, but not touching it and pays total respect to the existing building, which I’m the biggest fan of. It’s my favorite.”
When Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt was asked if demolition would take place, she said the “necessary construction will take place” and the East Wing would be “modernized.”
After video of demolition began circulating Monday, Trump posted on Truth Social.
“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!” he wrote.
The ballroom will be spectacular… unlike your work in Haiti. https://t.co/D8SNvZULRA
— Eric Trump (@EricTrump) October 21, 2025
Critics on the left accused Trump of destroying an American landmark and wasting money on vanity projects.
Among them was former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who blasted the renovation online.
“It’s not his house. It’s your house. And he’s destroying it,” she wrote on X, attaching a screenshot of a Washington Post article about the project.
Eric Trump fired back at Clinton, saying, “The ballroom will be spectacular … unlike your work in Haiti,” referencing long-standing controversy around the Clinton Foundation’s handling of donations to the Caribbean nation.
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California Governor Gavin Newsom joined the chorus of outrage, claiming Trump was “ripping apart the White House just like he’s ripping apart the Constitution.”
The White House responded by highlighting what it called Newsom’s hypocrisy, posting on social media.
“Your Capitol renovation is costing California taxpayers $1.1 BILLION — 4x more than the privately funded White House ballroom, which costs taxpayers NOTHING,” the account retorted.
Your Capitol renovation is costing California taxpayers $1.1 BILLION — 4x more than the privately funded White House ballroom, which costs taxpayers NOTHING. https://t.co/Bd9TkXMeFD pic.twitter.com/xOOOtGrIsk
— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) October 21, 2025
Officials confirmed the new ballroom would be entirely privately funded. Trump personally contributed to the project, with a portion of the funding reportedly coming from a $22 million settlement reached with Alphabet, the parent company of YouTube, following the suspension of his account after January 6.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren slammed the president’s decision, accusing him of misplaced priorities.
“Trump won’t pay for health care, education, or a federal government budget. But Trump will build a brand new $200 million ballroom for himself and his donors,” she said.
“It’s clear what Trump’s priorities are — and the American people are not on that list.”
The project is being managed in partnership with the Trust for the National Mall, a nonprofit organization overseeing parts of the funding process.
Trump defended the use of private money, telling Republicans on Tuesday, “We’re putting up our own money. The government is paying for nothing. You probably hear the beautiful sound of construction in the back — that’s music to my ears.”
“When I hear that sound it reminds me of money,” he added. “In this case it reminds me of lack of money because I’m paying for it.”
The administration released a statement Tuesday mocking the outrage, noting that previous presidents have all made significant renovations or additions to the White House.
“In the latest instance of manufactured outrage, unhinged leftists and their Fake News allies are clutching their pearls over President Donald J. Trump’s visionary addition of a grand, privately funded ballroom to the White House,” the statement read.
“A bold, necessary addition that echoes the storied history of improvements and additions from commanders-in-chief to keep the executive residence as a beacon of American excellence.”
On MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski devoted several minutes to the story, describing the scene as “painful” and “grotesque.”
“It is hard to believe that any president could destroy the White House and take a wrecking ball to an existing structure so historic,” Scarborough said.
“It would be one thing if you were building on or doing things inside, but to literally take a wrecking ball to the White House — it’s grotesque.”
Brzezinski referenced last month’s Rose Garden renovation that replaced a patch of grass with a “Presidential Walk of Fame,” saying it set a troubling precedent.
Scarborough interrupted, calling the new project “far different” and claiming it risked undermining the White House’s historical integrity. “It’s history being torn to shreds,” he said.
Scarborough went on to question whether future presidents could “tear things up” as they pleased, saying, “If somebody wants to go into the White House, the next person wants to just knock down all the walls and turn it into a disco, Congress can’t do anything?”
“Seriously — you’re destroying one of the most historic structures on the planet.”
Brzezinski added that “it’s not your home that you purchased in Jersey,” prompting Scarborough to respond, “No, it’s not yours, you rent it from the American people for four years.”
Later that day, White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson responded to the backlash in a statement to Fox News.
“President Trump is working 24/7 to Make America Great Again, including his historic beautification of the White House, at no taxpayer expense,” Jackson remarked.
“These long-needed upgrades will benefit generations of future presidents and American visitors to the People’s House.”
