Former first lady Michelle Obama took a light-hearted jab at President Donald Trump’s demolition of the White House East Wing during an NBC interview on Tuesday.
While speaking with Jenna Bush Hager on NBC’s “Today with Jenna & Friends,” Obama reflected on her years in the White House and commented on how the historic residence has changed.
“There’s no guidebook,” she said, referring to the unique challenges of serving as first lady. “There’s barely a staff. Now we don’t have a building,” she joked, referencing the controversy surrounding the East Wing construction.
The East Wing was torn down to make room for a $250 million ballroom project, a decision that sparked backlash among Democrats, who argued the renovation erases a significant part of the building’s history. The wing previously housed the first lady’s office and support staff, and Obama lived in the residence for eight years with her family.
Bush Hager responded humorously, saying, “I know, R.I.P. the East Wing.” Other former White House residents, including Hillary Clinton and Chelsea Clinton, also criticized the demolition last month.
Obama went on to reflect on how her family was scrutinized more than others who had served in similar roles. “The light was a little bit brighter because politics created an otherness. There were some people who tried to paint everything we did as a sign that we weren’t ready, that we weren’t suited, that we weren’t American enough,” she said.
She emphasized that the level of criticism directed toward her family felt different from what previous first families had experienced. “And I don’t think that other families dealt with that kind of criticism. But as you know, the first lady, it’s a strange job,” she said.
Construction photos circulating online fueled widespread criticism of the project, though the Trump administration defended the decision. In a statement, the White House dismissed the controversy, referring to backlash as exaggerated and describing the ballroom addition as a “bold, necessary addition,” funded privately.
Officials also highlighted that earlier presidents made significant structural updates of their own, pointing to President Theodore Roosevelt’s creation of the West Wing, President Barack Obama’s addition of a basketball court, and President Bill Clinton’s restoration of the Executive Mansion.
