The White House will resume public tours in early December, approximately six weeks after President Donald Trump ordered the historic East Wing to be demolished to make way for a $300 million gilded ballroom. The first lady's office announced that tours will recommence on 2 December, featuring an updated route that showcases the history and beauty of the People's House.
The December tours will also include the White House's annual Christmas decorations on the State Floor, which the first lady's office stated will be 'thoughtfully designed and curated' under her direction. Visitors will be able to enjoy the traditional holiday decorations that transform the White House into a festive reflection of the season.
Public tours were suspended two months ago due to construction on the 90,000-square-foot ballroom, a project championed by President Trump. The East Wing, first built in 1902 and expanded in the 1940s to include a bunker for President Franklin Roosevelt, was demolished earlier this month to clear the site for the new ballroom.
First Lady Melania Trump, who does not reside at the White House full time, has not publicly commented on the project. However, according to The Wall Street Journal, she privately raised concerns about the demolition and told friends the ballroom 'wasn't her project.'
Public opinion polls show opposition to the project, with a Washington Post and ABC News poll indicating 56 percent oppose the decision to raze the East Wing. An Economist-YouGov poll found 61 percent opposed, with 25 percent in support. The ballroom is funded by $300 million in private donations from companies including Apple, Amazon, Google, and Palantir, as well as individuals such as Blackstone CEO Stephen Schwarzman.
