The Washington Post Editorial Board Supports Trump’s East Wing Demolition for New Ballroom
In a recent op-ed titled "In Defense of the White House Ballroom," the Washington Post’s editorial board, owned by Amazon’s Jeff Bezos, voiced support for President Donald Trump’s bold initiative to demolish the East Wing of the White House. This decision aims to create a grand ballroom funded by private corporations, including Amazon.
The editorial highlighted how strong leaders often challenge the status quo, stating, “Strong leaders reject calcification.” While some critics view the rubble of the East Wing as a symbol of Trump’s disregard for established norms, others appreciate his vision as a builder willing to take decisive action for change. The editorial noted, “In classic Trump fashion, the president is pursuing a reasonable idea in the most jarring manner possible.”
The piece pointed out that many former officials from the Biden and Obama administrations recognize the necessity for an event space like the proposed ballroom. Currently, state dinners require temporary tents on the South Lawn, and VIPs are often left with inadequate facilities.
Jeff Bezos, the executive chairman of Amazon, acquired the Washington Post in 2013 and has made significant changes to the publication, particularly in its opinion section. Earlier this year, he shifted the focus towards personal liberties and free markets. Following the resignation of opinion page editor David Shipley, the Post appointed Adam O’Neal, a former correspondent for The Economist, as the new opinion editor.
The estimated cost for the opulent ballroom, set to replace the East Wing, is around $300 million, with Amazon among the corporate donors supporting the project. Although the editorial acknowledged potential conflicts of interest arising from this fundraising, it refrained from explicitly naming Amazon as a contributor.
The editorial board justified Trump’s aggressive approach, citing examples of bureaucratic delays in obtaining approvals for necessary improvements, like the White House perimeter fencing and the Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial. Other notable corporate supporters of the ballroom project include Comcast, Apple, Meta, Microsoft, and Google, which recently settled a lawsuit with Trump for $22 million, a sum he directed towards the ballroom’s construction.
In their October 25 editorial, the Post addressed concerns from preservationists about the lack of traditional review processes for the demolition. They argued that the project would not have progressed under conventional scrutiny, stating, “The blueprints would have faced death by a thousand papercuts.”
The editorial concluded that the White House should not merely serve as a relic of the past. It emphasized the need for evolution to preserve its relevance and greatness, suggesting that Trump’s initiative serves as a challenge to NIMBY (Not In My Backyard) attitudes everywhere.
The demolition of the East Wing also resulted in the loss of the White House’s historic 42-seat movie theater, a site of many significant presidential screenings. Over the years, it hosted iconic moments, from Barack Obama’s viewings of “Lincoln” and “Selma” to Richard Nixon watching “Patton” before the Cambodia invasion.
As the rubble of the East Wing is cleared, the vision for a new White House ballroom emerges, embodying a blend of modernity and tradition in the heart of American governance.
