Trump's Son Clashes with Chelsea Clinton Over White House East Wing Demolition

The Clintons faced accusations of taking government property, mistakenly believing they were personal gifts.

Donald Trump Jr. has responded sharply to Chelsea Clinton after she criticized the demolition of the White House East Wing for the construction of a new $300 million ballroom.

Chelsea Clinton, daughter of former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, expressed her concerns on X, stating, "The White House became my home when I was twelve years old. I always understood that it wasn't my 'house'; it was The People's House."

She further argued that President Trump's decision to demolish the East Wing represented an attack on American heritage and democratic principles.

"The erasure of the East Wing isn't just about marble or plaster - it's about President Trump again taking a wrecking ball to our heritage, while targeting our democracy, and the rule of law," Chelsea wrote in her social media post.

Donald Trump Jr. quickly responded by referencing allegations from 2001 that the Clintons had taken White House items valued at over $28,000 upon leaving office. "Lol, your parents tried stealing furniture and silverware from the White House," he wrote.

The items in question were later returned by the Clintons after clarification that they belonged to the government. The Clintons described the situation as a misunderstanding regarding personal gifts.

Trump Jr. added a reference to the scandal involving former President Clinton and White House intern Monica Lewinsky, writing, "And let's not talk about the intern. Sit this one out."

In an opinion piece for USA Today, Chelsea Clinton acknowledged that renovations to the White House are normal: "Every president and first family makes changes to the White House over time, and renovations themselves aren't wrong."

She emphasized, "What matters is how the changes are done, whether history is respected, and whether the public is considered, because the White House belongs to the people."

The East Wing, which traditionally housed the First Lady's offices and hosting spaces, was demolished last month as part of what President Trump described as a "necessary modernisation."

Regarding the planned ballroom, Trump stated that maintaining the East Wing as it was would "hurt a very, very expensive, beautiful building." He assured that the construction costs would be covered by himself and "some friends of mine" at no expense to taxpayers.