Former President Barack Obama repaired the White House, while Trump’s ballroom plan has demolished part of the mansion.
President Donald Trump has demolished the White House’s East Wing, startling historic preservationists and drawing national ire on his way to building what he says will be a new 8,400-square-metre (90,000-square-foot) ballroom.
Amid criticism of this projected $300m project, however, Trump’s defenders are pointing to another White House renovation in recent memory to suggest the current outrage is unwarranted.
“A CNN report from 2010: $376 million White House renovation during the Obama Administration,” read an October 22 X post that shared a 25-second clip of a CNN news story. “Where was the Democrat outrage then?”
A CNN report from 2010: $376 million White House renovation during the Obama Administration. Where was the Democrat outrage then? pic.twitter.com/MvLVDFcTru — Christian Collins (@CollinsforTX) October 22, 2025
“BREAKING,” read another X post that reshared the sa
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