First Lady Melania Trump voiced private worries about her husband’s contentious decision to tear down the White House East Wing and has sought to separate herself from the large ballroom initiative, according to administration officials who spoke with The Wall Street Journal.
According to unnamed White House officials cited by the Journal, the first lady questioned the removal of the East Wing and told confidants the project was not her undertaking. Melania Trump has not made any public statements regarding the destruction of the historic area that traditionally included the Office of the first lady, the East Colonnade, and the Jacqueline Kennedy Garden.
President Donald Trump authorized the demolition of the Roosevelt-era East Wing to clear space for a 90,000-square-foot ballroom, reversing a previous promise made last summer that the existing structure would remain untouched. He had initially said the ballroom would be built next to the East Wing without affecting the historic building, noting he admired the White House.
Heavy machinery was photographed tearing through the structure, leading to viral images on social media and strong public reactions. The damage is visible even from space.
The estimated cost of the project has risen from $200 million to at least $400 million, with Trump asserting private donors will cover the expenses. The ballroom is now planned to hold more than 1,000 guests, an increase from the original 650-person capacity. The facility will be nearly twice the size of the White House’s main 55,000-square-foot building.
Stephanie Grisham, Melania Trump’s former chief of staff and now a critic of the president, told CNN the demolition saddened her. Grisham highlighted how quickly the work was executed, bypassing the standard approval procedures for White House alterations. She said she never imagined the East Wing would be torn down in only a few days as if it were a condemned structure.
The administration has yet to submit its ballroom plans to the National Capital Planning Commission, the body responsible for construction oversight on federal properties. Will Scharf, the White House staff secretary appointed by Trump to chair the commission last July, argued that while construction requires approval, demolition does not.
On Oct. 21, the National Trust for Historic Preservation sent a letter urging the White House to halt demolition until the plans could be reviewed. The group expressed serious concern that the scale and height of the proposed building would overshadow the White House and potentially disrupt the classical symmetry between the main residence and the two smaller East and West Wings.
The letter said: “As we approach the 250th Anniversary of our country’s founding, the preservation of historic places that represent our nation’s history has never been more relevant or important.”
When Reuters reporter Jeff Mason asked Trump about transparency surrounding the project on Oct. 23, the president responded sharply. He said: “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.”
Although Melania Trump had reservations about the demolition, sources previously told People that she supported her husband’s renovation efforts because they made the presidential residence feel more like their Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. One Florida source said both Trumps preferred being in Palm Beach, so they were essentially bringing elements of Mar-a-Lago to Washington.
A member of the Mar-a-Lago club told People that the couple is proud of their Florida home’s style and enjoys showcasing it, so it is unsurprising they would redesign the historic presidential residence. The source said that whenever Donald and Melania can make the White House reflect Mar-a-Lago, they will, noting the president personally oversaw much of the décor at their Florida property.
White House spokesman Davis Ingle defended the undertaking in a statement, asserting that Trump is working tirelessly to Make America Great Again, which includes his historic White House beautification project, all at no cost to taxpayers. He said the upgrades will benefit future presidents and the American public.
Officials have stated the East Wing offices will be reconstructed as part of the overall project.
The project cleared a major legal hurdle on Feb. 26, 2026, when U.S. District Judge Richard Leon dismissed the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s effort to halt construction, ruling the group was unlikely to succeed on its core claims. However, the judge allowed the organization to amend its lawsuit to contest Trump’s use of private financing without congressional approval.
In regulatory matters, the Commission of Fine Arts unanimously approved the renovation on Feb. 19, and the National Capital Planning Commission plans a public hearing on March 5, with written feedback accepted through March 4.
The project continues to draw criticism over its extravagant design, the lack of public input before demolition began, ongoing asbestos litigation filed by the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization, and concerns about bypassing Congress to use private funds for a $400 million renovation of a national landmark.
Despite continued controversy, the administration says above-ground construction could begin as soon as April, to complete the ballroom before the end of Trump’s term.
