by Taylor Adams ‘27

The Trump Administration began demolishing the East Wing of the White House this October. The East Wing has always been considered the social sphere of the White House and was the First Lady’s domain. It has been demolished to make room for a ballroom to host large events. Government officials say this renovation is much needed as the current space for hosting events could only seat 200 people. President Donald Trump had promised to consult professionals and not interfere with the structure of the existing building, but his actions go against this. While arguments can be made for or against the need for a ballroom, an incontrovertible fact is that Trump lied about his intentions as he moved forward with a radical construction plan for the White House, commonly referred to as the “people’s house.”

This is not the first time a president has significantly altered the White House. Trump previously paved over the Rose Garden, added gold trims to the Oval Office, and hung numerous portraits of himself. However, this renovation unveils his lack of regard for rules and regulations. Trump failed to consult the National Capitol Planning Commission (NCPC), the executive branch agency that has jurisdiction over major renovations and construction to government buildings in the region, and ended up firing the professionals he hired to consult him. The process also did not take into account asbestos, which was involved in building at the time of the White House’s origin and can cause severe lung damage if inhaled. In the demolition of the East Wing, asbestos was likely exposed because Trump blatantly disregarded safety precautions. If there are plans to majorly alter a historical building, the government needs to be highly transparent with the process and expected changes. Considering the scope of this project, it’s absurd that Trump be allowed to treat it like a home renovation.

Behind Trump’s ignorance and disrespect for regulations, it can’t be ignored that he broke another promise. Since before his term even began, Trump has been making bold  guarantees, many of which he has failed to carry out. He claimed he would lower prices on day one, and end the Ukraine-Russia war, to give just two examples of broken promises. He promised that the renovation wouldn’t interfere with the structure of the White House, and then went and hit the East Wing with an excavator used as a wrecking ball. He is testing his limits; he was bold enough to fire the professionals he was meant to consult. He has no care for the history of the building, even though his administration claims they preserved historical artifacts. He just wants to see how far he can go and continue to have support. This demolition was just a show of his power and another example of how he doesn’t care if he lies to the American people about his intentions.