Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., is calling on future Democratic presidential candidates to make a striking campaign promise: destroy President Donald Trump’s newly constructed White House ballroom if elected.

“Don’t even think of seeking the Democratic nomination for president unless you pledge to take a wrecking ball to the Trump Ballroom on DAY ONE,” Swalwell wrote on X on Saturday.

Don’t even think of seeking the Democratic nomination for president unless you pledge to take a wrecking ball to the Trump Ballroom on DAY ONE.

— Rep. Eric Swalwell (@RepSwalwell) October 26, 2025

His post quickly drew attention as debate continues over the president’s ongoing redesign and expansion of parts of the White House complex.

For the first time in the building’s history, the White House will include a formal ballroom, constructed on the site of the former East Wing.

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The addition, announced by White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt on July 31, marks one of the largest structural projects ever undertaken at the executive residence.

Leavitt said the 90,000-square-foot ballroom will be able to host about 650 seated guests and is designed to match the White House’s neoclassical style.

“The White House is currently unable to host major functions honoring world leaders in other countries without having to install a large and unsightly tent approximately 100 yards away from the main building's entrance,” Leavitt stated.

She added that the new facility would be “a much-needed and exquisite addition.”

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Construction began earlier this month and is expected to continue through 2026.

The total cost is estimated at $250 million, fully financed by President Trump and private donors, according to officials.

The project’s unveiling came as crews began clearing sections of the East Wing, with images of demolition circulating widely online.

The work has drawn both praise and criticism — supporters calling it an investment in American hospitality and tradition, while opponents accuse the president of altering a historic landmark.

In addition to the ballroom, several other changes have been introduced across the White House grounds.

The Oval Office and Cabinet Room now include gold accents, while the Rose Garden lawn features new stone pavers.

Two 88-foot flagpoles have been installed near the North Lawn, visible from Pennsylvania Avenue.

A monument titled the “Arc de Trump” is being constructed near the South Portico, and a “walk of fame” display includes portraits of past presidents.

Among them is a photograph of the autopen that signed documents during Joe Biden’s tenure, an inclusion that has drawn attention from visitors and staff alike.

White House officials have emphasized that none of the upgrades will require taxpayer funding.

All contributions, Leavitt confirmed, are privately sourced and approved through the same commission process used for prior renovations.

While the ballroom’s completion is still months away, it has already become a centerpiece of political discussion in Washington.

Swalwell’s call for Democrats to campaign on demolishing the addition signals how the construction has evolved from an architectural project into a partisan talking point ahead of the 2028 election cycle.

The funniest thing about this is not that Swalwell POSTED it, but that he thought it was so brilliant that he REPOSTED it. pic.twitter.com/M26TEDlO9x

— Margot Cleveland (@ProfMJCleveland) October 26, 2025

The ballroom is intended to host state dinners, summits, and ceremonial events traditionally held offsite due to space limitations.

When finished, it will become one of the largest enclosed venues within the White House complex — and, according to officials, a permanent fixture unless a future administration acts otherwise.

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