A Democratic representative from California is urging candidates in the 2028 presidential race to commit to dismantling Donald Trump’s $250 million golden ballroom “from day one” of their administration.
Eric Swalwell has issued a challenge to Democrats considering a run in the upcoming election, insisting they take a decisive stance against the ballroom, which is already being built with private financing.
“You cannot seek the Democratic nomination for president unless you promise to demolish the Trump Ballroom on DAY ONE,” Swalwell stated on X, formerly known as Twitter.
He also suggested an alternative: renaming the venue the “Barack Obama Ballroom,” following recent reports that Trump plans to christen it “The President Donald J. Trump Ballroom.”
“A monument to Trump’s corruption cannot remain,” Swalwell asserted.
Last week, Trump initiated the demolition of the White House’s historic East Wing to make room for the luxurious new ballroom.
Critics argued Swalwell’s demands are emblematic of the wider problem within the Democratic Party, which is more focused on tearing down Trump than improving the lives of hardworking Americans.
‘Great. Incur unnecessary expenses for show. That’s what we expect from Democrats,’ one critic told Swalwell.
Demolition is already underway with the East Wing being torn down to pave the way for Trump’s grand new ballroom
The project is expected to be completed long before the end of Trump’s term
Eric Swalwell demanded fellow Democrats considering running in the next election take a firm stand against the ballroom, which is already under construction and has been funded by private donors
‘Imagine being elected to the House of Representatives and making this your priority,’ another wrote.
‘I can’t believe you think that is a winning message. But in fantasy Democrat land, that’s a winning strategy,’ a third added.
‘Great idea – tear down a brand new addition – worth hundreds of millions of dollars. Pure genius here!’
Swalwell’s fury comes as Hillary Clinton went ballistic over Trump’s plans to construct the ballroom. The former secretary of state, first lady and presidential candidate – who lost to Trump in 2016 – lashed out on Tuesday.
‘It’s not his house. It’s your house. And he’s destroying it,’ the ex-Senator wrote on X, including a screenshot of a Washington Post story about the remodel.
The White House responded to the outrage later in the day.
‘President Trump is working 24/7 to Make America Great Again, including his historic beautification of the White House, at no taxpayer expense,’ spokesperson Abigail Jackson told Fox News.
‘These long-needed upgrades will benefit generations of future presidents and American visitors to the People’s House.’
Trump announced in July plans to build a grand, 25,000 square feet ballroom to accommodate state dinners and other formal events.
Renderings show a lavish design – crystal chandeliers, gilded columns and gold inlays – reflecting the opulent aesthetic of the president’s Mar-a-Lago resort.
The new ballroom is to be privately funded, with Trump chipping in himself.
Donors include Silicon Valley titans, Apple and Google, defense behemoth Lockheed Martin, and telecom provider, T-Mobile.
The East Wing, in its original form, was constructed in 1902 during President Theodore Roosevelt’s tenure, initially as a small structure that served as the public entrance.
It has since been expanded and modified, notably with the addition of a second story in 1942 to provide offices for First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt and her staff.
The facade of the East Wing of the White House is demolished by work crews on October 22
Trump’s large American flag can be seen in the background as workers tear down the White House’s East Wing on Monday to make room for the $250 million White House ballroom project
Trump held a glitzy White House dinner with billionaires and company executives who are bankrolling the ballroom.
Among the guests were oil baron Harold Hamm, Blackstone chief executive Steve Schwarzman, and Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss.
‘We’re here to celebrate you, because you have given a tremendous amount of money to see a ballroom built,’ he told the cheering crowd on Wednesday.
‘In between China, Russia, everything else that we deal with, it’s going to be a great ballroom… It is starting right behind us.’
Trump opened the gold curtains behind him to unveil the construction site.
‘It will be demolished,’ he said. ‘Everything out there is coming down and it will be replaced by the most beautiful ballroom.’
Days after demolition began, Trump snapped at a reporter who asked whether he’d been transparent about his plans, given the revelation that the East Wing was being torn down.
Trump also explained his reasoning for destroying the historic building, telling reporters that ‘in order to do it properly, we had to take down the existing structure’
‘I’ve shown this to everyone who would listen,’ Trump said after holding up renderings showing the proposed ballroom. ‘Third-rate reporters didn’t see it because they didn’t look.’
Trump also explained his reasoning for destroying the historic building, telling reporters that ‘in order to do it properly, we had to take down the existing structure.’
He added that he ‘never thought of [it] as being much’ and said the second-story of the East Wing ‘was not particularly nice.’
