If Trump’s East Wing demolition shocks you, check out what he did to priceless works meant for the Metropolitan Museum of Art
Trump’s East Wing demolition is not his first time bulldozing a historic site
- Donald Trump's plan to demolish the White House's East Wing for a new ballroom has drawn significant public disapproval.
- This move mirrors a past controversy from 1979 when Trump razed the historic Art Deco Bonwit Teller building in New York City for Trump Tower.
- Despite an initial agreement to donate them to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, valuable Art Deco friezes and a grille from the Bonwit Teller building were destroyed during its demolition.
- Trump cited project delays and costs for the destruction, later expressing regret in “The Art of the Deal,” acknowledging his youth and haste at the time.
- The ongoing demolition of the White House East Wing for a 90,000 sq ft ballroom, estimated at $300 million, is proceeding without the public review requested by preservation groups.