President Donald Trump erupted at a White House reporter on Thursday, October 23, 2025, calling him a “third-rate reporter” after being questioned about his transparency regarding the demolition of the East Wing. The heated exchange, captured on live television, came as construction crews continued tearing down the historic Roosevelt-era wing to make way for a massive new ballroom.
Reuters White House correspondent Jeff Mason drew Trump’s ire when he asked whether critics were correct in asserting that the president had not been transparent enough about the demolition plans. Trump raised his voice in response, incredulously asking if the reporter was serious about the lack of transparency.
Trump continued his attack, telling the journalist that he had shown the plans to everyone who would listen and that third-rate reporters did not see them because they did not look. The president added that Mason was a third-rate reporter and always had been.
As Mason attempted to interject, Trump continued his criticism, asserting that anyone who asked had seen the pictures, which had been published in newspapers and were widely available. “I’ve shown this to everybody that would listen. Third-rate reporters didn’t see it because they didn’t look,” Trump stated while holding up mockups of the planned ballroom featuring gold chandeliers and Mar-a-Lago-style decor.
The confrontation stemmed from reports that the president had reversed earlier assurances about the East Wing. During a July 31 press conference following the announcement of the ballroom plans, Trump promised that the new structure would not touch the East Wing. He said it would offer views of the Washington Monument and would be near the existing building but not touching it, paying total respect to the historic structure.
On Wednesday, October 22, The New York Times confirmed the demolition with a senior official who was not authorized to publicly discuss the work. The official indicated that the teardown was slated to be completed by that weekend. Heavy machinery was photographed tearing down sections of the East Wing on October 20.
White House spokesman Davis Ingle provided a statement defending the project, saying the president was working around the clock on his historic beautification of the White House at no taxpayer expense. He characterized the work as long-needed upgrades that would benefit future presidents and American visitors.
Trump explained during the Thursday exchange that after extensive consultation with some of the best architects in the world, the team determined that completely demolishing the structure was the best approach for constructing the new ballroom. He noted that little remained of the original 1902 structure, which underwent renovation in 1942, and that some more recent alterations were not particularly attractive.
The project has drawn significant criticism from preservation groups. On October 21, the National Trust for Historic Preservation sent a letter to the White House urging Trump to pause demolition until the plans could be reviewed. The organization expressed deep concern that the proposed 55,000-square-foot construction would overwhelm the White House itself and potentially disrupt the carefully balanced classical design of the historic building with its two smaller, lower East and West Wings.
The letter emphasized the importance of historic preservation as the country approaches the 250th anniversary of its founding, urging the administration to consider the deep reverence Americans hold for the iconic structure and to initiate a proper review process.
Trump’s administration has not yet submitted plans for the ballroom to the National Capital Planning Commission, the agency responsible for approving and monitoring construction on federal buildings. Will Scharf, whom Trump appointed as chair of the planning commission in July, claimed last month that the administration did not need approval for demolition, only for construction.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the project on October 21, dismissing the backlash as fake outrage. She told Fox News that while many presidents had dreamed about such a project, Trump was actually doing something about it. She characterized him as the builder-in-chief, suggesting his construction abilities were a significant factor in his reelection.
Trump indicated that the ballroom would cost approximately $300 million, an increase from earlier estimates of $200 million. He stated that he and some friends were funding the project entirely, with the government paying nothing. Among the contributors are major corporations including Apple and Amazon.
The East Wing houses the first lady’s offices and serves as an entrance for official guests. By Wednesday, October 22, much of the facade had been stripped away. Trump dismissed criticism as partisan, telling reporters on Tuesday that the beautiful sound of construction reminded him of money, even if it was money being spent.
