The Trump administration is moving forward with the demolition of the historic White House East Wing, despite not having submitted plans to the National Capital Planning Commission for the new ballroom project. According to officials, the entire East Wing will be demolished within days, leaving only the structure leading to the new 90,000 square-foot ballroom in its place.
President Trump downplayed the significance of the demolition, claiming that the East Wing was "never thought of as being much; it was a very small building." He further stated that by demolishing the existing structure, they could do it "properly" and build something truly special – a new ballroom that will be "the finest ever built."
However, experts and preservationists are at odds with this decision. The National Trust for Historic Preservation has sent a letter to the White House urging Trump to pause demolition plans due to concerns over the impact on the historic building's classical design.
The administration claims that the destruction of the East Wing is not subject to commission approval, citing differences between demolition and construction work. However, critics point out that this stance contradicts the original promise made by President Trump during his re-election campaign.
As the controversy surrounding the demolition continues to escalate, many are left questioning the administration's motives and priorities. One thing is clear: the fate of the White House East Wing hangs in the balance, with no signs of reversal.
President Trump downplayed the significance of the demolition, claiming that the East Wing was "never thought of as being much; it was a very small building." He further stated that by demolishing the existing structure, they could do it "properly" and build something truly special – a new ballroom that will be "the finest ever built."
However, experts and preservationists are at odds with this decision. The National Trust for Historic Preservation has sent a letter to the White House urging Trump to pause demolition plans due to concerns over the impact on the historic building's classical design.
The administration claims that the destruction of the East Wing is not subject to commission approval, citing differences between demolition and construction work. However, critics point out that this stance contradicts the original promise made by President Trump during his re-election campaign.
As the controversy surrounding the demolition continues to escalate, many are left questioning the administration's motives and priorities. One thing is clear: the fate of the White House East Wing hangs in the balance, with no signs of reversal.
. The White House East Wing has been there for over a century and it's not just any old building - it's got tons of history and beauty. I mean, can't they see how important it is to preserve that? It's not like they're getting rid of it because it's ugly or anything... the problem is, the new ballroom project sounds super fancy but what about all the character and charm that the old building brings? 
It's just another example of how short-sighted our leaders can be when it comes to making decisions about our national heritage. 
. I get that the East Wing wasn't always thought of as iconic or whatever, but come on, it's still a part of history! And can we talk about how tone-deaf Trump is being? "It was never thought of as much"?! Um, no, Mr. President... it was a significant building with lots of character 
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. And Preservationists are totally on point with their concerns - this is all about the historical significance and cultural importance, not just some random building 
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. The White House East Wing deserves better than a hasty demolition 
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so Trump thinks the east wing was never that important huh? newsflash dude it's been around since 1902 and has some pretty sweet history 
and yeah he claims they're doing us a favor by "demolishing" it to build something better... meanwhile we get to enjoy the thrill of watching a piece of american history get torn down 
and the national trust for historic preservation is like "hold up buddy we've got 200+ yrs of history on our hands here" 
meanwhile trump's just over here saying whatever he wants and we're all stuck in limbo 
. It's not just about the East Wing itself, but also about what it represents - the presidency and American democracy 
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The fact that they're saying it's "small" just doesn't add up - I've seen smaller buildings that are still super impressive 
It just feels like a power play to me.
. preserving historic buildings is so important for future generations to learn from and be inspired by. can't we just preserve the east wing in all its glory instead of destroying a part of it? 
. i mean, 90k sq ft is a lot of space but cant it be preserved instead? the east wing has been around since the 1800s and its got some serious historical value you know? not to mention all the important events that took place there... its like theyre just gonna wipe out a piece of american history just for the sake of progress 
. i hope somone can step in and stop this demolition, maybe theres a way to incorporate the old building into the new design or something 
- have you seen those old halls? They're iconic for a reason! 
. Can't they see how this is going to look when the pics come out? The White House will be looking like some kinda renovation gone wrong...
. Like, what's next? Demolishing the whole thing?