Former Chief White House Historian Says Founding Fathers Would Be ‘Disgusted’ by Trump’s ‘Palace’ Makeover

A leading U.S. historian is voicing strong criticism over President Donald Trump’s new 90,000-square-foot White House ballroom — a project replacing the East Wing and estimated to cost around $300 million.

Edward Lengel, who served as chief historian for the White House Historical Association during Trump’s first term, reacted on CNN to the sudden demolition of the East Wing. He predicted that Trump would deliver “more and more surprises down the road,” hinting that the renovations might extend beyond the East Wing and impact the 19th-century Executive Mansion itself.

Lengel suggested that the scale of the new structure could shift the White House’s architectural balance: “Now your attention is going to be drawn to the giant ballroom, which really has one man’s name on it,” he said. “It’s going to cast the Executive Mansion into the shade and turn it much more into a presidential palace.”

The historian — whose scholarship centers on the Founding Fathers such as George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, Benjamin Franklin, and John Jay — added that, in his view, “all of the founders would have been disgusted by this.”

Following Lengel’s comments, ABC News reported that the ballroom is expected to literally bear Trump’s name, with insiders already calling it The President Donald J. Trump Ballroom.

The White House had issued a press release on July 31 describing the project as a “much-needed and exquisite addition,” while Trump told reporters that the ballroom “won’t interfere with the current building,” insisting it would be built “near it but not touching it” out of “total respect” for the historic residence.

However, on October 20, construction teams were seen using heavy machinery to demolish the East Wing. Two days later, The New York Times reported confirmation from a senior official that the entire East Wing area — including the Jacqueline Kennedy Garden, updated in the 1960s and dedicated to the former first lady — would indeed be razed.

White House spokesman Davis Ingle said in a prior statement that “President Trump is working 24/7 to Make America Great Again, including his historic beautification of the White House, at no taxpayer expense,” adding that “these long-needed upgrades will benefit generations of future presidents and American visitors to the People’s House.”