WSJ Opinion: Potomac Watch Donald Trump Demolishes the White House East Wing to Build a Ballroom
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Oct 24, 2025 Joining the discussion is Bill McGurn, a former presidential speechwriter and Wall Street Journal columnist, known for his insights on historic presidential decisions. He delves into Trump’s swift demolition of the East Wing for a ballroom, surprising many with its speed and scale. McGurn explores the balance between functionality and preservation in past renovations, from Jefferson to Nixon, and highlights public reactions to this radical approach. The conversation raises questions about future presidential precedents and the evolving identity of the White House.
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Sudden Large-Scale Renovation
- Trump unexpectedly demolished the East Wing within days to build a 90,000 sq ft ballroom he says the White House needs.
- Bill McGurn frames it as rapid, large-scale change driven by functional ambitions rather than preservation instincts.
Simplicity As Civic Symbol
- Bill McGurn emphasizes the White House's original simple, republican design as a civic virtue.
- He warns that lavish changes risk undermining that symbolic simplicity even if functional upgrades are warranted.
Personal Loss Over East Wing
- Michael LaRosa recounts his sentimental attachment to an office near the First Lady's offices he occupied after the Biden inauguration.
- He accepts modernization but feels personal loss at seeing familiar spaces removed.