Trump shrugs off outcry as White House demolition makes way for ballroom

US President Donald Trump brushed aside criticism over demolition work at the White House to build a new ballroom, saying the noise of excavators tearing into part of the East Wing was “music to my ears.” The opposition accused him of disrespecting the presidential mansion, as images of the work circulated amid separate political battles over a potential government shutdown and the rising cost of living.

Trump said taxpayers would not foot the bill for the $250 million project, asserting that he would fund part of it personally and that private and corporate donors would cover the rest. A recent donor dinner drew high-profile guests from the tech sector, the White House said, without providing details.

In a sharply worded statement, the administration dismissed what it called “manufactured outrage,” arguing that presidents have historically altered the complex and that the ballroom would be a bold addition. Officials cited earlier modifications by past administrations and pointed to Trump’s wider refurbishment programme, including changes to the Rose Garden.

Democratic lawmakers condemned the demolition, casting it as emblematic of broader efforts to reshape institutions. Senator Mazie Hirono called the construction symbolic of damage to democratic norms, while Senator Elizabeth Warren said Americans facing rising costs would hear only “bulldozers” as a lavish new venue went up.