President Donald Trump unleashed a heated attack on a Reuters correspondent during a White House exchange on Wednesday, October 22, 2025, after being questioned about his transparency regarding the ongoing demolition of the East Wing. The confrontation, which was captured on camera, marked the latest flashpoint in growing controversy over Trump’s decision to tear down the historic wing to make way for a lavish $300 million ballroom.
Journalist Jeff Mason drew the president’s wrath when he asked whether Trump had misled the public about the extent of the demolition work. Trump’s voice rose as he responded incredulously to the question about his transparency on the project.
The president declared that he had shown the plans to everyone who would listen, asserting that third-rate reporters did not see the designs because they failed to look. Trump went on to call Mason a third-rate reporter and claimed he always had been one. When the reporter attempted to interject, Trump continued his verbal assault, insisting that anyone who asked about the project had seen the pictures published in newspapers and distributed widely.
The confrontation came after Trump reversed his earlier assurances about the East Wing’s fate. During a July 31 press conference announcing the ballroom plans, Trump promised that the new structure would not touch the existing wing. He stated at the time that it would be positioned near but not touching the building and would pay total respect to the existing structure, which he claimed to greatly admire.
On Wednesday, Trump justified the demolition decision by explaining that after extensive consultation with some of the world’s best architects, the team concluded that completely tearing down the wing was necessary to properly complete the ballroom project. The president noted that little remained of the original 1902 structure, which underwent its last major renovation in 1942, and that some recent alterations were not particularly attractive.
Demolition crews began tearing into the East Wing on Tuesday, October 21, 2025. By Wednesday, much of the facade had been stripped away. The New York Times confirmed the demolition with a senior official who was not authorized to publicly discuss the work. According to the official, the teardown was scheduled for completion by the weekend.
The project’s scope and cost have expanded significantly from initial estimates. Trump indicated Wednesday that the ballroom would likely cost $300 million, up from previous estimates of $200 million. The president maintains that he and some friends are financing the project entirely, with the government paying nothing. Among the contributors are major corporations including Apple and Amazon, according to Trump.
White House spokesman Davis Ingle stated that Trump was working around the clock to make America great again, including through his historic beautification of the White House, at no taxpayer expense. The spokesman emphasized that these long-needed upgrades would benefit generations of future presidents and American visitors to what he called the People’s House.
The demolition has sparked significant criticism from preservation groups. On October 21, 2025, the National Trust for Historic Preservation sent a letter to the White House urging Trump to pause the demolition until plans could undergo proper review. The organization expressed deep concern that the massing and height of the proposed 90,000-square-foot ballroom would overwhelm the White House itself, which totals about 55,000 square feet.
Carol Quillen, the trust’s president and chief executive officer, warned that the expansion may permanently disrupt the carefully balanced classical design of the White House with its two smaller, lower East and West Wings. The letter emphasized the importance of preserving historic places as the nation approaches the 250th anniversary of its founding.
Trump’s administration has not yet submitted plans for the ballroom to the National Capital Planning Commission, the agency responsible for approving and monitoring construction on federal buildings. Will Scharf, the White House staff secretary whom Trump appointed as chair of the planning commission in July, claimed last month that the administration did not need approval for demolition, only for construction.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt dismissed the backlash as fake outrage during an appearance on Fox News on October 21, 2025. She noted that while many presidents had dreamed about such renovations, Trump was actually accomplishing them. Leavitt described the president as the builder-in-chief, arguing that he was re-elected to the People’s House in large part because of his building expertise.
Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton joined the criticism, posting on social media that the building was not Trump’s house but rather the American people’s house, and that he was destroying it. The East Wing currently houses the first lady’s offices and serves as an entrance for official guests visiting the White House.
During his exchange with reporters, Trump held up mockups of the planned ballroom, which features gold chandeliers and Mar-a-Lago–style decor. He maintained that the project had received great reviews and expressed pride in the plans.
