The massive ballroom project ordered by President Donald Trump at the White House has emerged as an early target for Democratic-controlled Washington should the party reclaim the presidency in 2028. Democratic leaders are now exploring how to repurpose, sideline or even remove the 90,000-square-foot structure that replaced the historic East Wing.

Trump’s administration justified the new space as a modern venue for hosting state dinners and large-scale official events.

The structure, estimated to cost up to three hundred million dollars and funded largely by private donations, demolishes the East Wing section that once housed the First Lady’s offices and invitation-processing facilities.

Prominent Democrats have been clear about their intentions.

Representative Jamie Raskin declared the space belongs to “the people” and argued for converting it into a venue that highlights civic engagement rather than “American aristocracy and plutocracy”.

Representative Ro Khanna said the space should reflect “forgotten Americans” instead of lavish elites.

Some lawmakers, including Representative Steve Cohen, went further, suggesting full demolition.

The opposition to the ballroom reflects both architectural and political concerns.

Preservationists have flagged the scale and aesthetic of the project as out of sync with the classical White House design, and poll data show a majority of Democrats and a majority of independents oppose the ballroom’s construction.

If a Democrat were to be inaugurated in 2029, the question will arise: continue using or maintaining the space as Trump intended, or transform it into something with a different mission and symbolism.

With the next presidency potentially up for grabs, the ballroom already stands as a metaphor for broader political and cultural debates over power, public space and national symbolism.