A surprising voice from President Donald Trump’s first term is now criticizing his latest project to restore and modernize the White House — and it’s coming from inside the former First Lady’s own circle.
Stephanie Grisham, who once served as Melania Trump’s top aide and the White House press secretary, blasted the ongoing demolition of the East Wing, calling the changes “jarring” and “heartbreaking.”
“As someone who was privileged to work in the People’s House — on both sides, the East and West Wings — it breaks my heart,” Grisham told CNN’s OutFront. “It’s something that can never be put back.”
The East Wing Comes Down — Trump’s Bold Ballroom Rises
This week, construction crews completed demolition of the East Wing, a section that for decades housed the First Lady’s office, the White House calligrapher, and even the presidential movie theater.
The project — part of President Trump’s privately funded $300 million renovation plan — will make way for a new state ballroom designed to host major events and foreign dignitaries in a more secure, elegant setting.
White House officials describe the effort as “a bold, necessary addition to restore the grandeur and function of America’s most iconic home.”
Trump supporters say the new ballroom symbolizes the president’s vision to bring American tradition, elegance, and pride back to Washington — something long overdue after years of neglect.
Grisham’s Shock — and Melania’s Silence
Grisham, however, said she didn’t expect Trump to go this far.
“I didn’t expect it to be demolished like a condemned house,” she said.
She also suggested that the sight of bulldozers tearing through the East Wing may have even caught Melania Trump by surprise.
“I wouldn’t doubt if she too was shocked by the images,” Grisham added, noting that the East Wing had been the First Lady’s workspace for generations.
From $200 Million to $300 Million — But Privately Funded
Early cost estimates placed the project at around $200 million. That number has since climbed closer to $300 million, but the Trump administration emphasized that no taxpayer dollars are being used.
A list of private donors — many of them longtime supporters of the Trump movement — was released earlier this week, underscoring that the ballroom’s construction is being funded by patriotic Americans who believe in restoring the White House’s dignity and purpose.
Trump’s Legacy: Building, Not Tearing Down
While critics and former aides may be wringing their hands, supporters see something much bigger taking shape.
They say Trump’s new ballroom isn’t about vanity — it’s about legacy. It’s a vision to create a space that represents the strength, class, and timeless beauty of the American presidency.
For a president who’s never shied away from bold action, the message is clear: Trump builds. Others talk.
Bottom Line
Stephanie Grisham may call it “heartbreaking,” but millions of Americans see it differently — as another example of Donald Trump making history and redefining leadership, one brick at a time.
As the new ballroom rises, so does the message behind it: America is still worth rebuilding.