Donald Trump‘s pleasure over his sweeping White Home makeover took an attention-grabbing flip after he introduced plans on Oct. 22 to demolish all the East Wing, as an alternative of the partial renovation initially proposed. As photographs of demolition crews tearing into the century-old part surfaced on-line on Oct. 21, the dialog rapidly shifted.
The beautification undertaking is the primary section of bringing the president’s much-talked-about ballroom to fruition. The enterprise reportedly will value $250 million and is being funded by non-public donors. Upon completion, the Mar-a-Lago makeover will cowl 90,000 sq. ft.
Cash apart, loads of people are curious to understand how the “large, lovely White Home Ballroom” will have an effect on his spouse, Melania Trump. The East Wing was constructed by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt in 1942. Most notably, the primary girl’s workplace and workers and the customer’s entrance had been situated in that White Home wing.
Photographs of the East Wing being torn all the way down to make room for Trump’s ballroom ship social media into shock — regardless of his July promise that it could keep precisely as is.
“It’ll be constructed over on the east facet, and it will likely be lovely,” Trump said throughout a press convention. “It’ll be views of the Washington Monument. It received’t intervene with the present constructing. It’ll be close to it however not touching it. And pays complete respect to the prevailing constructing, which I’m the largest fan of. It’s my favourite. It’s my favourite place. I find it irresistible.”
Trump’s detractors have lengthy speculated that Melania didn’t take up residency on the White Home and has seldom made herself obtainable to him throughout his second presidency. The couple has been married since 2005 and has one son, Barron Trump. The businessman can also be a father to Donald Trump Jr., Ivanka, Eric, and Tiffany.
Nonetheless, the large renovations solely additional gasoline theories about their relationship. On X, a person reacted to the ballroom information with, “First Girl and her workers are, or had been housed within the East Wing. Fairly certain Melanie has different locations she lays her head, however the place are the workers? And sure, please, an injunction to cease this shame after which restore it.”
A number of studies word that Melania and staffers had been relocated however didn’t present extra particulars of their whereabouts. A second tweet learn, “Does @RealDonaldTrump hate the East Wing as a result of that’s the place the First Girl’s workplace is meant to be, and Melania received’t sleep with him within the White Home (or wherever else)?”
A 3rd tweeter posted, “Isn’t trump ripping aside the White Home proper earlier than Melania’s favourite vacation is an ideal excuse for her to say she received’t be adorning the White Home for Christmas this 12 months?”
First Girl and her workers are, or had been housed within the East Wing. Fairly certain Melanie has different locations she lays her head, however the place are the workers? And sure, please, an injunction to cease this shame after which restore it. https://t.co/ig5NWeCEv1
— KC ‘N Tucson (@Georgia70190490) October 21, 2025
Prior to now, the previous mannequin has hawked ornaments to supporters simply in time for the vacations. The identical space within the East Wing that beforehand displayed her crimson Christmas bushes will show this 12 months’s patriotic tree trimmings, together with mini variations of monuments like Mount Rushmore in addition to symbolic American ornaments like a star and the American flag. The collectibles are promoting for $75 to $90.
“This 12 months, I sought inspiration in our Nation’s upcoming 250th birthday, and the entire vacation blessings that we take pleasure in as Individuals,” stated the Russian-born political determine. A 3rd individual wrote, “Melania doesn’t even stay within the White Home. She left him way back.”
A fourth critic commented on her absence as they wrote, “It’s the East Wing that he’s demolished. That contained the First Girl’s places of work, her workers, and the White Home correspondence workers. That might point out both 1) Melania hasn’t been doing any work, or 2) He doesn’t care about his spouse, or 3) the entire above.”
A fifth individual claimed, “I do know Melania wished to don’t have anything to do with Trump, being First Girl, or its’ East Wing places of work, so Trump determined to only bulldoze the entire constructing to punish her, and us, it’s proprietor.”
The couple tried to look united throughout official journeys, together with current visits to the United Kingdom to satisfy with the Royal Household and for Trump’s speech at a United Nations assembly. Although, not even temporary moments of them holding arms may persuade critics that the wedding is rooted in love and never comfort.