White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has commended an article from a liberal platform regarding Trump’s ballroom initiative.
“Finally, a sensible take from the mainstream media on this matter,” Leavitt commented on X, referring to a Saturday editorial by the Washington Post’s Editorial Board, which underwent a transformation in 2025 to present more libertarian perspectives.
The Board’s editorial counters the “Not In My Back Yard” or NIMBY sentiment.
“In typical Trump style, the president is implementing a sound idea in the most startling way imaginable,” the Board states, while also mentioning that “behind closed doors, numerous former Biden and Obama administration members recognize the overdue necessity for an event venue like Trump’s proposal.”
“It’s ridiculous that tents must be set up on the South Lawn for state dinners, and distinguished guests are relegated to using portable toilets,” the Board continues.
This editorial emerges as Trump faces backlash for his recent decision to demolish the White House’s East Wing.
Congressman Eric Swalwell, a California Democrat, wrote on X on Saturday that a member of his party should not ‘even think of seeking’ a nomination for president unless you pledge to take a wrecking ball to the Trump Ballroom on DAY ONE.’
Social media users reacted to the Post’s story, with one saying that it’s ‘absurd’ that people wouldn’t want to improve the conditions for hosting world leaders.
The demolition of the East Wing of the White House, the location of U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposed ballroom is seen from an elevated position on the North side of the White House in Washington
One wrote: ‘You know the left is totally bats**t crazy when they oppose something as basic as improving WH facilities for hosting world leaders and dignitaries.
‘But Obama’s basketball court (snicker) was perfectly necessary since many foreign leaders like to practice layups and free throws before world summits. They are absurd.’
Another added: ‘No one wants to have King Charles use an outhouse at the White House.’
And a third said: ‘I’m still in shock, knowing that the Washington Post actually is writing an article without trashing Trump.’
While others slammed the Washington Post for their take: ‘The Washington Post, owned by Jeff Bezos, the founder and executive chairman of Amazon, a major funder of Trump’s ballroom, which Trump just demolished the East Wing to make way for, says the ballroom is actually a good thing.’
The day before Swalwell made the post, Kennedy Center President Richard Grenell exclusively told the Daily Mail that he believes the renovation is long overdue, especially given the work already done in the White House Rose Garden.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks during the press briefing in the Brady Briefing Room of the White House in Washington, DC, on October 23, 2025
Daily Mail spoke with Kennedy Center President Richard Grenell on Friday, October 24 on the red carpet ahead of the opening night of the Aida Opera, asking him about Trump’s ballroom renovation
Speaking on Friday before the opening night of the opera Aida at the Kennedy Center, Grenell noted that, ‘if you’ve ever been to the White House, you know that it’s a really cramped space. It cannot hold a whole bunch of people.’
‘What President Trump believes as a man of the people is that this is an opportunity to bring a lot more Americans to the White House,’ Grenell said, adding that ‘this is going to be a ballroom that will be permanently there, rather than having tents and rentals constantly.’
Grenell also noted that ‘what we’re going to do is have a permanent structure there that really is going to allow lots more people to experience the White House.’
The Kennedy Center leader also remarked on renovations already completed in the White House Rose Garden, which he believes ‘is already being used on a regular basis.’
Amid the criticism President Trump’s ballroom has received, internet sleuths unearthed a 2010 CNN clip in which the network’s hosts joked about then-President Barack Obama’s White House renovation, which was reported to cost $376 million and be funded by taxpayers.
Trump’s ballroom is said to cost $250 million, which is going to be paid for by private and corporate donors.
