The National Trust for Historic Preservation is calling on the Trump administration to halt demolition work on the East Wing of the White House until a full review of President Donald Trump’s proposed ballroom is completed.
Concerns Over the Scale of the Project
In a letter sent Tuesday to the National Capital Planning Commission, the National Park Service, and the Commission of Fine Arts, the nonprofit warned that the planned ballroom annex could “overwhelm the White House itself.” The Trust urged a pause on demolition until all legal public review processes and consultations are finalized.
Architectural Experts Join Opposition
The Society of Architectural Historians and the American Institute of Architects have also expressed concern about the project’s scale. The AIA previously noted that the “90,000-square-foot addition raises concerns regarding scale and balance” and must harmonize with the White House’s historic proportions.
White House Defends Construction Plans
While the preservation groups have no legal power to halt construction, the White House dismissed the criticism as “manufactured outrage.” Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told Fox News that nearly every modern president has made updates to the White House, adding that Trump’s ballroom would provide the larger event space many presidents have long desired.
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