New Photos Reveal Complete Demolition of White House East Wing as Trump’s Ballroom Project Advances
Images show rubble where the historic wing stood, underscoring the pace of President Trump’s ambitious renovation plan
Recent photographs captured from the Washington Monument and elsewhere show that the entire East Wing of the White House has been demolished, clearing the way for a new $300 million ballroom commissioned by President Donald Trump.
The images, taken in early December, reveal a scene of rubble and heavy machinery where the over-a-century-old structure once stood — a stark visual of one of the most sweeping alterations to the presidential residence in generations.
The demolition began in October after Trump’s administration abandoned earlier assurances that the existing building would remain intact.
The East Wing, which had been expanded in 1942 and housed multiple staff offices including those of the first lady, was razed in full.
Work crews have cleared much of the debris, and the site is now being prepared for the footprint of the 90,000-square-foot ballroom.
The new ballroom — designed by federal-project specialist Shalom Baranes Associates — is intended to host state functions and large-scale events that, until now, required erecting tents or using off-site venues.
According to the White House, the project remains under budget and ahead of schedule despite its expanded scope and faster-than-expected demolition.
The decision to proceed full steam ahead has drawn sharp attention, as the overhaul erases decades of architectural and institutional history.
Among the losses is the original wing’s social-entrance foyer, the historic family theatre, and offices used for White House tours and public functions.
The redesign reflects the administration’s broader push to reshape the White House interior to match its current aesthetic vision.
With the East Wing now gone, all that remains is an open pit and cleared grounds on the east side of the executive residence — but construction crews are already working toward a new era for the mansion, one defined by scale, spectacle, and a markedly different structural footprint.