Donald Trump has shared insights into Melania Trump’s feelings regarding the demolition of the East Wing of the White House, which has sparked considerable discussion. In an interview on The Ingraham Angle this past Monday, Trump addressed concerns surrounding his wife’s sentiments about the extensive renovations.
During the interview, conservative host Laura Ingraham questioned Trump about allegations that Melania was not pleased with the destruction of the East Wing, a space historically associated with First Ladies, including Jill Biden, Michelle Obama, Laura Bush, and Hillary Clinton. The East Wing has served as a venue for Melania’s Christmas decorations and numerous festive gatherings.
Recent reports from The Wall Street Journal indicated that Melania privately expressed unease about the demolition, stating to associates that the project wasn’t one she had championed.
The Daily Beast reached out to the Office of the First Lady for an official comment regarding these claims. Trump remarked during the interview, “She loved her little tiny office,” suggesting that his wife was indeed discontent with the ongoing changes. He went on to say, “You know what? She is very smart. In about one day she… if you would ask her now, she says it’s great.”
Facing scrutiny from critics, including former First Lady Michelle Obama, over the historical implications of the East Wing’s demolition, Trump referred to the structure as a “beautiful little tiny structure built many years ago,” while also calling it a “poor, sad site.” In defending his decision, Trump asserted that the East Wing, built in 1902, had undergone numerous renovations and expansions long before he proposed current changes.
“It had nothing to do with the original building. It was a poor, sad site. I could have built the ballroom around it, but it would have not have been,” he claimed, although his thought was left unfinished. Trump emphasized, “We are building one of the greatest ballrooms in the world.”
In a previous statement made in July, Trump had asserted that the renovations would not disrupt the existing East Wing, stating, “It’ll be near it, but not touching it, and pays total respect to the existing building, which I’m the biggest fan of.”
On Ingraham’s show, Trump elaborated on his viewpoint of the East Wing, commenting on its various renovations over the years. “That building was renovated 20 times, including adding a floor to the top, which was terrible,” he stated. He criticized its design, noting, “It was out of common brick, little tiny windows, it looked like hell. It had nothing to do with the original building,” expressing the desire for a ballroom that meets his standards.
Trump indicated his determination not to compromise quality, saying, “I didn’t want to sacrifice a great ballroom for an okay ballroom by leaving it right smack in the middle.”
The funding for the new ballroom is being sourced from private donors, with Trump’s estimates indicating a budget ranging from $250 million to $300 million. The White House has disclosed a list of contributors, including major companies like Apple and Amazon, as well as individuals such as Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. Notably, an analysis of these companies uncovered that many possess lucrative government contracts cumulatively valued at nearly $280 billion. Congressional Democrats’ inquiries regarding the project have reportedly been met with silence.
The planned ballroom is poised to span 90,000 square feet, nearly double the size of the executive building’s space, which is 55,000 square feet. Trump assured that it will be unmatched in beauty, stating, “It’s going to be the most beautiful anywhere in the world. We’re going to have the best ballroom anywhere in the world. I’ve built a lot of them.”
While no specific completion date has been announced, the ballroom is projected to be finished before the conclusion of Trump’s second term. In a separate Fox News interview last month, Donald Trump Jr. defended the project, asserting it would serve more than just a personal benefit to his father. “Because of the time of construction, the great irony, despite what these idiots are saying, is that Donald Trump is the president that will actually get to use it the least,” he concluded.
