Several high-profile Democrats reacted sharply this week to ongoing construction at the White House, where a privately funded 90,000-square-foot addition to the East Wing is under development.

The expansion, which includes a new ballroom and event space, is being financed by President Donald Trump and other private donors, with no taxpayer money involved.

The White House confirmed earlier this month that construction began in late September as part of a long-term effort to enhance event hosting capabilities and modernize parts of the East Wing.

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The new addition will serve as a multipurpose ballroom and conference facility, while preserving the building’s existing architecture and historical character.

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who served as first lady from 1993 to 2001, criticized the project during a recent interview. “It’s not his house. It’s your house. And he’s destroying it,” Clinton said, referring to the East Wing construction.

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Her remarks drew attention due to her own history with the White House; upon leaving in 2001, the Clintons were criticized for taking government property later returned following a public audit.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) also expressed outrage over the project during a floor speech Thursday. Displaying a photograph of the East Wing’s partial demolition, Schumer said the image represented what he called the “desecration” of a national symbol.

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“It’s illustrative of what the president is doing to the whole country,” Schumer said, linking the construction project to his broader criticisms of the administration.

The White House responded by highlighting the building’s long history of renovations and upgrades. On Thursday, officials updated the official White House website to include a historical overview of previous structural changes by past administrations.

The timeline notes that President William Howard Taft remodeled the West Wing, President Franklin D. Roosevelt expanded it, and President Harry Truman undertook a full reconstruction of the interior in the late 1940s.

The timeline also references major historical moments connected to past administrations, including President Bill Clinton’s affair with White House intern Monica Lewinsky, which led to his impeachment for perjury.

It further cites a 2012 meeting between Obama administration officials and members of the Muslim Brotherhood, noting that the organization is considered a terrorist group by several foreign governments.

More recent entries include First Lady Melania Trump’s completion of the privately funded neoclassical tennis pavilion on the South Lawn in 2020.

The updated timeline also references incidents from Joe Biden’s presidency, such as the discovery of a bag of cocaine in the West Wing entrance lobby and the 2023 Pride Month event where a transgender activist exposed his chest during a ceremony on the South Lawn.

The updated historical page quickly drew attention from left-leaning media outlets. Sam Stein, managing editor of the Bulwark blog, wrote, “The White House has revamped its website to defend the destruction of the East Wing. And they’ve done it exactly the way you’d expect.”

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White House Deputy Chief of Staff James Blair responded on X, writing, “Liberal media has [a] problem with documented historical facts being posted on the White House website.”

Deputy Assistant to the President Kaelan Dorr also replied to Stein, adding, “Thank you for your attention to this matter.”

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According to the White House, the East Wing addition is expected to be completed in early 2027 and will remain part of the permanent structure for future administrations.

Officials said the ballroom and expanded facilities will be used for state functions, press events, and official ceremonies, emphasizing that all funding for the project comes from private contributions rather than public funds.

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