President Donald Trump is intent on building the ballroom of his dreams, regardless of what he has to tear down along the way. Earlier this month, Americans around the country were shocked when photos showing part of the East Wing of the White House being torn down.
While Trump has long been obsessed with building a ballroom at the White House, he had previously said that the East Wing wouldn’t be touched. Within about a week, the entire East Wing was fully destroyed. Trump and his administration completely lied to the American people.
The People’s House is very much Trump’s House, it seems. The optics of the entire situation don’t do the president any good, particularly because the economy isn’t wonderful and the federal government is shut down. Private donors being responsible for the money behind the ballroom’s construction — rather than taxpayer money — doesn’t necessarily soften the blow of seeing this unnecessary government project.
Furthermore, what about all the history the East Wing held? Trump clearly didn’t care — and in the process of the East Wing’s destruction, he’s destroyed decades of women’s history.
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Women’s History in the East Wing of the White House
The East Wing has seen many historical moments throughout the decades, as it has housed various offices. Perhaps most interestingly, the East Wing became a prominent base for women making history — and particularly first ladies making their mark on America.
First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt was the first to use the East Wing for official meetings and functions professionally. Once President Jimmy Carter was elected, First Lady Rosalynn Carter became the first presidential spouse to officially keep her own office, and that of her staff, in the East Wing.
Prior to this, first ladies only had offices in the residential area of the White House and often were forced to resort to using their own bedrooms. For decades now, the East Wing has seen lively history being made thanks to the first ladies, such as Roosevelt meeting with the Women’s Trade Union League, to Laura Bush creating a literacy program.
Now, those rooms where all these historical moments occurred have been completely demolished.
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Another Authoritative Move by Trump
There aren’t a lot of people who are happy about Trump’s destruction of the East Wing, particularly because the president lied about the whole thing. Now, history is also being destroyed. Even First Lady Melania Trump voiced her disappointment with Trump’s construction. After all, her offices were in the East Wing.
Yet once again, despite all of this disapproval, Trump will do what he wants, regardless of what we all think. Trump moves like an authoritarian leader, now more than ever.
Whether he’s tearing down the East Wing or, once again, musing about running for president in 2028, it’s clear Trump isn’t like other presidents who respected precedent. It’s time we recognize him for the authoritarian he so desperately wants to be.
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