Satellite images show before and after of demolition of White House East Wing
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Updated: 3:35 PM CDT Oct 23, 2025
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New satellite images taken Thursday show the scale of the demolition of the White House East Wing as President Donald Trump moves forward with the construction of a new ballroom at the White House.The East Wing, where first ladies created history, planned state dinners and promoted causes, is now history itself. The two-story structure of drawing rooms and offices, including workspace for first ladies and their staffs, has been turned into rubble, demolished as part of the Republican president's plan to build what he said is now a $300 million ballroom nearly twice the size of the White House.Trump said Wednesday that keeping the East Wing would have "hurt a very, very expensive, beautiful building" that he said presidents have wanted for years.He said "me and some friends of mine" will pay for the ballroom at no cost to taxpayers.See the change in images from Oct. 23 and Sept. 26, 2025, in images from Planet Labs PBC below.
WASHINGTON — New satellite images taken Thursday show the scale of the demolition of the White House East Wing as President Donald Trump moves forward with the construction of a new ballroom at the White House.
The East Wing, where first ladies created history, planned state dinners and promoted causes, is now history itself. The two-story structure of drawing rooms and offices, including workspace for first ladies and their staffs, has been turned into rubble, demolished as part of the Republican president's plan to build what he said is now a $300 million ballroom nearly twice the size of the White House.
Trump said Wednesday that keeping the East Wing would have "hurt a very, very expensive, beautiful building" that he said presidents have wanted for years.
He said "me and some friends of mine" will pay for the ballroom at no cost to taxpayers.
See the change in images from Oct. 23 and Sept. 26, 2025, in images from Planet Labs PBC below.
Planet Labs PBC
This satellite image from Planet Labs PBC shows the White House in Washington, Sept. 26, 2025, with the East Wing intact before demolition began.
Planet Labs PBC
This satellite image from Planet Labs PBC shows demolition of the East Wing of the White House in Washington, Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025.
