Trump’s White House renovation is jarring — but not unprecedented | Opinion

I have to be honest, I don’t enjoy home renovation projects. Although, there was a time when I watched enough HGTV that I thought I could probably build an en suite bathroom in my condo. I try not to judge others when they decide to play Bob Vila.

But this week, it was hard not to judge when photos emerged of a demolition crew tearing down the East Wing of the White House. And by judge, I mean — I was surprised.

Not because I wasn’t aware of the new ballroom construction by President Donald Trump, but because of what the White House represents. The image of an excavator clawing through the East Wing of the people’s house — an iconic symbol of American democracy — was sobering.

The photo made me think about how fragile democracy is. Political norms under this president are being torn down at breakneck speed, making it difficult to view this renovation as simple construction. The photos sparked outrage on social media and calls for a pause in construction.

In July, Trump said that the construction wouldn’t interfere with the existing building. But that’s obviously not the case. According to White House plans, the 90,000 square-foot ballroom will accommodate 650 more people, an increase from the current 200-person capacity.

During a press conference, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said, “Construction is a process; at the end, the East Wing, which is an entirely separate structure from the executive mansion you see behind me, will be more modern and beautiful than ever.” She’s right, construction is a process — but seeing a part of the White House being reduced to rubble is still jarring.

This isn’t the first time the White House has undergone a major transformation. Presidents from Thomas Jefferson to Harry Truman have left their mark. Jefferson added the East and West colonnades; Theodore Roosevelt created the West Wing. Each faced public criticism in their time.

The White House Historical Association noted that when Roosevelt renovated the White House, the Washington Post said the president’s “attempt to ‘modernize’ [the White House] has destroyed its historic value and does not seem to have made it much more desirable as a residence.”

There was disapproval, too, when former President Harry Truman oversaw a total renovation which altered the executive mansion more than the fire of 1814. Critics point out that Truman’s renovation was necessary, whereas Trump’s is a vanity exercise. Maybe so, but even Truman faced criticism.

Lawmakers and the press accused Truman of overspending and destroying history. When he added the Truman Balcony, public opinion was divided, and he was accused of misappropriating the White House for personal indulgence. Congressman Frederick Muhlenberg, told Congress, “this building belongs to the American people.”

The Truman Balcony, though, is proof that change can become tradition.

What stands out today isn’t just the scale of the planned construction, but the speed at which we’re watching this change happen. During Truman’s renovation, photographer Abbie Rowe documented the process, but he wasn’t posting in real time.

In this case, thanks to social media, we have a front row seat to every wall torn down and every swing of the mechanical shovel.

These renovations remind us that the White House, like our democracy, evolves and, hopefully, endures. It’s not a museum frozen in time. Every administration, for better or worse, leaves its mark — through policy or, in this case, plaster. Yet history shows that renovation is part of preservation.

For me, there’s hope in the dust. Just as Truman’s renovation gave new life to a crumbling White House, perhaps this one will, too — reminding us that even when our institutions undergo construction, their foundations remain. Renovations are an act of faith — a belief that what stands next in its place will be better than before.

Mary Anna Mancuso is a member of the Miami Herald Editorial Board. Her email: mmancuso@miamiherald.com

This story was originally published October 24, 2025 at 7:03 AM.