First Lady Melania Trump has privately expressed concerns about President Donald Trump’s controversial demolition of the White House East Wing, distancing herself from the massive ballroom project that has sparked national outcry, according to a report published Saturday, October 25, 2025.
The Wall Street Journal reported that the first lady raised concerns about tearing down the historic East Wing and informed associates it was not her project, according to administration officials. The revelation comes as construction crews demolished the Roosevelt-era structure that traditionally housed the Office of the First Lady, the East Colonnade, and the Jacqueline Kennedy Garden.
The 55-year-old first lady has remained publicly silent on the destruction of the area where she and her staff once worked. Her private misgivings stand in contrast to earlier reports suggesting she supported White House renovations that made the presidential residence feel more like the couple’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida.
Stephanie Grisham, who served as Melania’s chief of staff during Trump’s first term, publicly criticized the demolition during a CNN OutFront appearance. The former White House press secretary turned Trump critic told Erin Burnett the destruction “breaks her heart.” Grisham emphasized the rapid pace of the project, noting she did not expect the historic structure to be demolished like a condemned house over three days.
The demolition cleared space for Trump’s planned 90,000-square-foot ballroom, a project that has ballooned in cost from an initial $200 million to $300 million. The ballroom is expected to hold 900 people, up from 650 in the original plan. Trump announced the construction would be funded through private donations, though he previously claimed he would pay for it himself.
A Washington Post-ABC News-Ipsos poll released Thursday found 56% of Americans oppose the White House ballroom project that required demolition of the East Wing, while 28% support it. The findings highlight sharp partisan divides — 62% of Republicans support the plan while 88% of Democrats oppose it. The poll was conducted between October 24 and 28 among 2,725 U.S. adults and has a margin of error of plus or minus 1.9 percentage points.
The president broke a vow he made earlier in 2025 to leave the existing White House structure intact during construction. In his Truth Social announcement, he stated that the East Wing would be fully modernized as part of the process and claimed it would be more beautiful than ever when complete. However, excavators were seen tearing apart the historic section, leaving only rubble where past first ladies planned state dinners and conducted official business.
The East Wing holds particular significance for holiday traditions. In 2018, Melania installed 40 divisive blood-red trees in the East Colonnade, while the traditional Gold Star Family Tree honoring those lost in military service stood at the wing’s entry. That same year, she was recorded telling an aide, “I’m working my a– off at Christmas stuff… you know, who gives a f— about Christmas stuff and decorations? But I need to do it, right?”
The Democratic Party’s official account, which has 2.4 million followers, highlighted Melania’s silence on the demolition, noting that maintaining the East Wing and its holiday decorations have historically been the first lady’s responsibility. The account reshared her infamous quote about Christmas decorations alongside photos of her past work in the now-demolished space.
Trump’s administration has bypassed standard approval procedures for the project. Will Scharf, whom Trump appointed as chair of the National Capital Planning Commission in July 2025, claimed the administration did not need approval for demolition, only construction. However, on Monday, October 21, 2025, the National Trust for Historic Preservation sent a letter urging Trump to pause demolition until plans could be reviewed.
The organization expressed deep concern that the massing and height of the proposed 55,000-square-foot construction would overwhelm the White House itself and permanently disrupt the carefully balanced classical design. The letter noted the importance of preserving historic places as the country approaches its 250th anniversary and urged Trump to consider the reverence Americans hold for the iconic building.
Trump responded defensively when questioned about transparency regarding the project. On Thursday, October 23, 2025, he raised his voice at Reuters’ Jeff Mason, stating, “I haven’t been transparent? Really? I’ve shown this to everybody that would listen. Third-rate reporters didn’t see it because they didn’t look.”
White House spokesman Davis Ingle defended the project in a statement, saying Trump is working around the clock to beautify the White House at no taxpayer expense. He indicated the upgrades would benefit generations of future presidents and American visitors to the People’s House. Officials stated the East Wing offices will be rebuilt.
The first lady has spent most of her time in New York since Trump returned to office and has rarely visited the White House for official events. Social sources previously told PEOPLE that both Donald and Melania would prefer to be in Palm Beach, so they are bringing Mar-a-Lago to Washington. The demolition occurs amid a lengthy government shutdown requiring hundreds of thousands of federal workers, including air traffic controllers and TSA agents, to work without pay.
