The Daily Beast Podcast Trump Plotted Secret White House Teardown: Wolff
10 snips
Oct 29, 2025 
Michael Wolff, a bestselling author and commentator known for his incisive reporting on the Trump White House, dives deep into Trump's audacious proposal to demolish the East Wing for a grand ballroom. He shares insights into Trump's obsession with control and speculates on the influence of former adviser Steve Bannon's provocative third-term schemes. Wolff also examines the dynamics of favoritism in the White House and reflects on Melania's conspicuous absence during a pivotal trip, revealing how personal and political ambitions intertwine.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Trump's Ballroom As Real Estate Power Play
- Michael Wolff reveals Trump pushed to demolish the East Wing and build a grand "Trump Ballroom" as an assertion of personal branding over institutional norms.
- Wolff links this plan to Trump's developer instinct to create irreversible facts on the ground to bypass political obstacles.
Bannon's Third-Term Theatrics Have Influence
- Wolff explains Steve Bannon publicizing a "third term" plan as attention-seeking theater rather than a constitutional strategy.
- He warns media amplification can make absurd ideas feel plausible within Trump's ecosystem.
Trips Expose Trump's Isolation, Lack Of Introspection
- Wolff notes Trump's travel discomfort and emotional isolation on foreign trips, with Melania conspicuously absent in Japan.
- He suggests Trump rarely shows introspection, even when faced with reminders of assassination or mortality.
