NOTE: If you are short on time, watch the video and complete this See, Think, Wonder activity: What did you notice? What did the story make you think about? What would you want to learn more about?
SUMMARY
The East Wing of the White House has been demolished as part of President Trump’s plan to build a new ballroom. The demolition has drawn sharp criticism from preservationists and historians. The National Trust for Historic Preservation called for the work to stop, stating that the proposed ballroom would overwhelm the White House itself. Geoff Bennett discussed the renovation with Priya Jain.
View the transcript of the story.
News alternative: Check out recent segments from the NewsHour, and choose the story you’re most interested in watching. You can make a Google doc copy of discussion questions that work for any of the stories here.
WARM-UP QUESTIONS
- What will be built in place of the East Wing? What process did the White House follow regarding seeking advice from historical preservation groups about the East Wing's demolition?
- Why doesn't the White House have stricter preservation restrictions on construction and renovation projects, according to this story?
- When was the last major construction project of the White House?
- How does the demolition of the East Wing differ from past construction projects?
- Who is paying for the new construction? (see the list at end of article: Who’s paying for Trump’s $300 million ballroom?)
ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS
- Why do you think the demolition of the White House's East Wing has attracted so much attention?
- Do you think the White House, Supreme Court and Capitol building should be exempt from following historic preservation laws? (see section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966) Explain.
Media literacy: Why do you think the News Hour chose to interview a historical preservationist for this story? Who else would you liked to have heard from?
NEWS: THEN & NOW
Then:
The original executive mansion, or home for the president of the United States, was built starting in 1792, and used enslaved laborers for its construction. However, this structure was burned down by British soldiers during the War of 1812. The watercolor below was painted by artist George Munger and depicts the original executive mansion still smoldering from the fire.
The President's House by George Munger; c. 1814-1815; Watercolor on paper. Courtesy of the White House historical association
In the image, it is clear that at the time, the landscape around the executive mansion was more rural than urban.
Architect James Hoban redesigned the home and President James Madison moved in to the new building, also built by enslaved people, in 1817. The home was informally called the "White House" early on due to its white washed appearance but wasn't formally called that until President Theodore Roosevelt began using the name on official documents in 1901.
The White House has gone through many renovations and changes through the years. The famous "West Wing" that houses key executive office rooms wasn't added until 1902, also by President Roosevelt. The "Oval Office," the president's own office, was built in 1909 by President William Howard Taft.
The West Wing under construction. Photograph courtesy of the White House Historical Association
The East Wing was added by President Franklin Roosevelt in 1942, and included wartime offices, a bomb shelter and even a theater. Later it became the home for offices of the First Lady.
The East Wing of the White House. Photograph Courtesy of the White House Historical Association
The entire White House was reconstructed in 1948 under President Harry Truman, with only the walls remaining intact.
Interior reconstruction of the White House in 1948. Photograph courtesy of the White House Historical Association
Presidents have refurbished, redesigned and remodeled elements of the White House for generations. Jaqueline Kennedy famously remodeled the White House to highlight the history of the people who lived there.
You can learn more about the history of the White House building here. You might also be interested in other historic restoration and preservation projects in this special exhibit from the Library of Congress.
Now:
In October 2025, President Donald Trump ordered the demolition of the East Wing in order to build a ballroom that is expected to be larger than the entire rest of the White House.
WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 23: An excavator works to clear rubble after the East Wing of the White House was demolished on October 23, 2025 in Washington, DC. The demolition is part of U.S. President Donald Trump's plan to build a multimillion-dollar ballroom on the eastern side of the White House. (Photo by Eric Lee/Getty Images)
The addition is just one of Trump's expected initiatives to build monuments and new structures throughout the capital.
Rendering of the proposed White House ballroom. Image courtesy of the White House
Discussion questions:
- How do you think decisions should be made about new additions or designs to historic national buildings and monuments, such as the White House?
- If you could make one change to the look or function of the White House, what would it be?
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