Dec 9, 2025 - Politics & Policy

White House construction site photos show rubble where East Wing once stood

Rebecca Falconer

The demolition site next to the White House (right), where the East Wing once stood at the White House. — Demolition work continues where the 123-year-old East Wing once stood at the White House on Dec. 8. Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Construction work at the White House for President Trump's $300 million ballroom is well underway — and all that's left of the site where the 123-year-old East Wing once stood is rubble, photos taken this week show.

The big picture: Trump said on Truth Social over the weekend that the ballroom would be "double the size" than was originally planned and the "column SPAN has been substantially increased for purposes of viewing," but the project was "under budget and ahead of schedule."

Demolition work continues where the East Wing once stood at the White House on December 08, 2025 in Washington, DC., with a large, gray crane lingering over the site to the right as 2 builders, one wearing a yellow high-vis jacket and the other an orange high-vis jacket, talk (center). — Trump ordered the East Wing and Jacqueline Kennedy Garden leveled to make way for the new 90,000-square-foot ballroom. He didn't immediately disclose the new timeframe for the project's completion. Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Viewed from the observation level of the Washington, Monument, demolition work continues where the East Wing once stood at the White House (right) on December 08. — A view of the construction site from the observation level of the Washington Monument. Trump has faced criticism over the construction that was initially projected to cost $200 million, which will be paid for with private donations. Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Demolition work continues where the East Wing once stood at the White House on December 08, 2025 in Washington, DC. A yellow CAT digger can be seen toward the back of the site that's filled with rubble. — Construction work at the old East Wing site on Dec. 8. In his Saturday post, Trump criticized CNN's Kaitlan Collins for asking about the escalating price tag. "It's just much bigger and more beautiful than originally planned," he wrote. Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Construction workers wearing high-vis jackets and white hard hats take down material where the East Wing used to connect to the White House on Dec. 1. — Construction workers take down material where the East Wing used to connect to the White House on Dec. 1. Trump emphasized that "there are no taxpayer dollars involved" in the project. Photo: Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

More from Axios:

Washington furious over Trump's East Wing demo
Trump's new ballroom architect has fingerprints all over D.C.
Ethics experts cringe as wealthy woo Trump with ballroom funds
Trump: "We had to take down the existing" White House East Wing structure

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White House construction site photos show rubble where East Wing once stood

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