According to Donald Trump, Melania Trump did not share his enthusiasm for his grand redesign of the White House, showing little support for his plan to demolish the entire East Wing and replace it with an enormous private ballroom.
The president also addressed first lady Melania Trump's reported displeasure.
In a recent interview with Laura Ingraham on Fox News, Donald Trump made a candid admission about his impressions of what First Lady Melania Trump really thought of his decision to completely demolish the East Wing of the White House.
«She loved her little, tiny office in it.»
Donald Trump

That section has traditionally housed the official offices of first ladies of the United States.
According to HuffPost, when Ingraham asked Trump if it was true that Melania «didn't love» his demolition of the East Wing, Trump responded that «She loved her little, tiny office in it.»

He quickly added that Melania was «very smart» and said he was sure that if she were asked again today, she would definitely say «It's great» about his plan to tear down the East Wing to make way for his mega ballroom.
The East Wing demolition wasn't necessary
In his interview, Trump revealed that he had not actually been required to demolish the East Wing in order to build his ballroom, but he nevertheless implied that he saw the East Wing as an obstacle to get around.
«I didn't want to sacrifice a great ballroom for an OK ballroom by leaving it right smack in the middle.»

Explaining the reason for his decision to completely demolish that part of the White House, Trump said he «I didn't want to sacrifice a great ballroom for an OK ballroom by leaving it right smack in the middle», diminishing the East Wing as a structure that «looked like hell» and claiming that the second floor was made «out of common brick» with «little tiny windows».
Trump went even further in his criticism of the East Wing, calling it «It was a poor, sad sight».

Not her project
Several outlets reported that Melania Trump quietly tried to distance herself from Donald Trump's East Wing demolition.
Citing unnamed aides, they said she raised concerns about tearing it down, stressed it was not her project, and maintained a pointed public silence while the $350m ballroom plan drew intense nationwide backlash.
Even Melania is distancing herself from the controversial East Wing demolition
— The Independent (@the-independent.com) 2025-10-27T18:03:19.843Z