Memo says White House was ‘excellently preserved’ during East Wing demolition for Trump’s ballroom

Associated Press (AP)EN 2 min read 100% complete by By JONATHAN J. COOPERFebruary 14, 2026 at 11:23 AM

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In 2026, the White House East Wing was demolished to make way for a ballroom planned by President Donald Trump. A memo from the White House Office of Administration, made public on Friday, stated that the White House mansion's eastern facade was "excellently preserved" during the demolition. The memo, written by Joshua Fisher, assured the National Capital Planning Commission that contractors took precautions to protect the residence, including stabilizing sections and monitoring vibrations. The demolition, which began without typical reviews and approvals, sparked public outcry and a lawsuit from the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The memo justified the demolition by stating that preserving the East Wing was not feasible while meeting Trump's goals for the project, which includes an improved visitor center. Historically significant items were documented and preserved, with the goal of integrating some into the new structure.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Thomas Jefferson 40% White House Office of Administration 50% National Trust for Historic Preservation 55% Joshua Fisher ×260% National Capital Planning Commission 65% Washington ×270% East Wing ×580% White House ×685% Donald Trump ×390%

Keywords

white house 100% east wing demolition 90% ballroom construction 80% historic preservation 70% national capital planning commission 60% renovations 50% public outcry 40% artwork preservation 40%

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Associated Press (AP)

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white house east wing demolition ballroom construction historic preservation national capital planning commission renovations public outcry artwork preservation

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