A demolition crew takes apart the facade of the East Wing of the White House, where U.S. President Donald Trump's proposed ballroom is being built, in Washington, D.C., U.S., October 21, 2025. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst
airs Friday, Oct. 24, 2025 at 8PM on PBS (check local listings)***
Trump’s Figurative and Literal Wrecking Ball
This week, in a symbolic and brazen display of unchecked power, President Trump used a wrecking ball to demolish the White House’s East Wing in order to make way for a new $300 million ballroom. He’s also tearing through Washington with other controversial moves, such as demanding the Justice Department reimburse him for hundreds of millions of dollars for past investigations and escalating aggression toward Venezuela, which included airstrikes on suspected drug-trafficking boats in international waters.
- Peter Baker, Chief White House Correspondent, The New York Times
- Susan Glasser, Staff Writer, The New Yorker
- David Ignatius, Foreign Affairs Columnist, The Washington Post
- Toluse Olorunnipa, Staff Writer, The Atlantic
Major funding for Washington Week with The Atlantic is provided by Consumer Cellular, the Yuen Foundation, Sandra and Carl DeLay-Magnuson, Rose Hirschel and Andy Shreeves, Robert and Susan Rosenbaum, and PBS. Keep up with Washington Week anytime by visiting the website or joining the conversation on Facebook and Twitter@washingtonweek.
