The editorial board of The Washington Post has voiced support for President Donald Trump’s plan to build a 90,000-square-foot ballroom at the White House, noting that the next Democratic administration will “be happy to have this”.

The piece acknowledges the dramatic nature of the demolition of the East Wing but frames the project as a reasonable and overdue upgrade to the nation’s chief residence.

Trump has defended the addition, which he says is being privately funded, and announced that the cost has risen to about three hundred million dollars.

Construction crews began demolition of the East Wing on October 21 2025, contradicting earlier statements that the structure “wouldn’t interfere” with the existing building.

The newspaper’s writers argue that the White House ‘cannot simply be a museum to the past’ and must evolve with the times if the United States is to maintain its status as a global leader.

They describe the current event-spaces at the White House as inadequate, pointing out that tents erected on the South Lawn for state dinners are “absurd” and that VIPs are forced to use portable toilets.

While many Democrats — including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and former press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre — have characterised the project as a misuse of the people’s house and a symbol of elite self-indulgence, the Post editorial suggests the criticism stems largely from partisan opposition rather than a substantive assessment of the need.

The plan remains in motion: the White House has indicated that the ballroom will be connected by a glass bridge to the main residence, and Trump said the building is “fully financed” through private donations from firms including Amazon, Lockheed Martin and Palantir Technologies.

Some preservation groups have raised alarm that the project bypasses typical federal review processes, but the Post editors contend that, had the standard red-tape applied, the project would have stalled indefinitely.

According to the editorial, the addition will not only serve presidential hospitality functions but underscore American soft-power by enabling the United States to host large-scale international events at the residence itself.

The board concludes that this bold architectural upgrade is aligned with the administration’s emphasis on national renewal.

As the project progresses through demolition and construction phases, the central question shifts to how the new facility will serve the presidency, the public and the historic White House grounds over the long term.