Gavin Newsom falsely claims Trump is 'ripping apart the White House'—presidents have been renovating since 1792

As construction is underway for a new ballroom at the White House, California Governor Gavin Newsom has complained that President Donald Trump is "literally destroying the White House." Since its inception, the famed residence has undergone numerous updates and additions.

Displaying a photo a portion of the White House being torn down to make way for the new ballroom, Newsom wrote, "Donald Trump doesn’t want you to see this picture. He’s literally destroying the White House."

Newsom also wrote on Monday, "Ripping apart the White House just like he’s ripping apart the Constitution," showing another photo of the demolition taking place.

The Trump War Room wrote in response, "Your Capitol renovation is costing California taxpayers $1.1 BILLION — 4x more than the privately funded White House ballroom, which costs taxpayers NOTHING."

A report from KCRA revealed that the $1.1 billion was set to cover the new office building for lawmakers, a parking garage, and a new visitor center, however, there are now no plans to construct a visitor center, and the budget for the project remains as high as some NFL stadiums in the state.

Per White House Historical Association President Stewart McLaurin, since construction for the first version of the famed residence began in 1792, the building has undergone many renovations and additions.

During Thomas Jefferson’s term, he added the east and west colonnades that connected the main residence. James Monroe added the South Portico after the original White House was burned down in the war of 1812. The North Portico was added by Andrew Jackson. President Chester Arthur undertook a massive redecoration of the White House’s interior during his term in the mid-1880s.

In response to the backlash the construction has been receiving, the White House noted the various efforts undertaken by presidents of the 20th and 21st centuries, including the West Wing built by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1902, which was remodeled and expanded upon by President William Howard Taft in 1909. In 1929, President Herbert Hoover remodeled the West Wing, which was again remodeled in 1934 by President Franklin D Roosevelt, who added a second floor, a larger basement, and a swimming pool.

The prior colonial garden on the grounds was removed and replaced with a rose garden in 1913 by President Woodrow Wilson. President Calvin Coolidge oversaw the renovation of the White House’s upper floors and attic in 1927. FDR also relocated the Oval Office to its current location, and constructed the East Wing.

A total reconstruction of the interior of the White House was undertaken by President Harry Truman, with just the exterior walls being preserved. The modern Rose Garden was constructed by President John F Kennedy in 1962. Nixon converted FDR’s swimming pool into the press briefing room and added in 1973 a bowling alley in the basement.

An outdoor pool was added by President Gerald Ford in 1975. President Bill Clinton undertook a restoration and refurbishment effort in the late 90s. President Barack Obama converted a tennis court on the grounds into a basketball court and added the White House Kitchen Garden. Under the first Trump administration, he oversaw the construction of a new White House tennis pavilion.

The White House wrote, "Now, in 2025, President Trump is carrying forward that legacy, breaking ground on a grand ballroom — a transformative addition that will significantly increase the White House’s capacity to host major functions honoring world leaders, foreign nations, and other dignitaries." The ballroom will be around 90,000 square feet with the seating capacity of 650 people. The funding for the project has come entirely from private donors.