Hillary Clinton Responds to White House Demolition: “It’s Not His House — It’s Yours”

Washington, D.C. — As demolition crews continued tearing down part of the East Wing of the White House on Wednesday, October 22, politicians from both parties voiced mixed reactions to President Donald Trump’s decision to build a new ballroom on the historic premises.

The controversial project, which began on Monday, October 20, involves a nearly $200 million expansion, adding approximately 90,000 square feet to the eastern side of the presidential residence. The construction comes as the United States endures its 22nd day of a federal government shutdown, leaving many federal employees without paychecks and facing layoffs.

Former New York Senator and 2016 Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton criticized the move, posting on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday, October 21:
“It’s not his house. It’s your house. And he’s destroying it.”

Clinton’s remarks reflect concerns among some Democrats and preservationists who argue that the White House, as a symbol of American democracy, should not be subject to such dramatic changes at the behest of a single occupant.

On the other hand, Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson defended the renovation, pointing out the long history of White House improvements:
“The White House has been renovated many times,” Johnson told reporters. “This is the greatest improvement to the White House in the history of the building. The ballroom is going to be glorious. It’s gonna be used for everybody. And by the way, hey, Democrats, if you win the White House back, you get to use it too.”

The demolition marks the first major construction ordered by a president in nearly eight decades, with the last significant changes dating back to the Truman administration.

Funding and Administration Response

Here’s more reactions from Republican and Democratic politicians over the demolition:

President Trump addressed concerns about the funding of the project during a news conference at the White House on Tuesday, October 21. He assured reporters that the construction is not being financed by taxpayers, but rather by “wealthy donors.”

“We’re putting up our own money, the government is paying for nothing,” Trump said, praising the demolition as “beautiful construction.”

White House officials echoed this sentiment, highlighting the long tradition of presidential renovations. In a post on X, the White House Rapid Response team stated:
“For more than a century, U.S. Presidents have been renovating, expanding, and modernizing the White House to meet the needs of the present day.”

The post cited previous projects, such as the 1902 construction of the West Wing and the 2009 transformation of a tennis court into a basketball court, to emphasize that change and modernization are not unprecedented.

A Divided Reaction

As construction continues, reactions remain divided. Some see the expansion as a necessary modernization, while others lament the alteration of a national landmark—especially during a time of political and economic uncertainty.

Whether the new ballroom will become a celebrated addition or a point of contention for future administrations remains to be seen. For now, the White House East Wing demolition stands as a vivid example of how presidential decisions can spark debate over the stewardship of America’s most iconic residence.