Michelle Obama Says She Felt ‘Confused’ by East Wing Demolition

Former First Lady Michelle Obama has struggled to understand the decision to demolish the East Wing of the White House, where she and other first ladies before her took office.

“It’s not about me. It’s about us and our traditions and what they stand for,” Obama, 61, said during her Tuesday, November 25, appearance on “The Jamie Kern Lima Show” when asked how she felt about the demolition. “I think in my body, I felt confusion because I’m like, ‘Well, who are we? What do we value and who decides that?’ That’s the thing that’s going through my head a lot lately.”

Michelle, who served as the first lady alongside her husband, former President Barack Obama, from 2008 to 2016, added that she has become “confused” by what today’s “norms and morals” might be.

“That’s the part of it that hurts. It’s not the house … it’s who … I’m just trying to understand the assignment,” she continued. “And so I think I felt a loss for us as a nation.”

On a personal level, however, Michelle said, “You know, that’s not our house. That’s the People’s House.”

President Donald Trump previously ordered the East Wing, which houses the Office of the First Lady, the Jacqueline Kennedy Garden and more, to be torn down and replaced with a $300 million ballroom.

“The White House is one of the most beautiful and historic buildings in the world, yet the White House is currently unable to host major functions honoring world leaders and other countries without having to install a large and unsightly tent approximately 100 yards away from the main building entrance,” a July press release on the White House website reads. “The White House State Ballroom will be a much-needed and exquisite addition of approximately 90,000 total square feet of ornately designed and carefully crafted space, with a seated capacity of 650 people — a significant increase from the 200-person seated capacity in the East Room of the White House.”

Demolition of the East Wing began on October 20 and concluded three days later. Meanwhile, the ballroom’s construction is expected to be completed before Trump’s term ends in 2029.

Michelle is not the only former first lady who has spoken out about the project. Hillary Clinton slammed the decision to demolish the East Wing via a post on X in October.

“It’s not his house. It’s your house. And he’s destroying it,” Hillary, 77, who served as the first lady alongside her husband, former President Bill Clinton, from 1993 to 2001, wrote at the time.

First Lady Melania Trump and her staff have been temporarily relocated from the East Wing amid the construction. Reports initially suggested that Melania, 55, privately raised concerns about the demolition. Donald, 79, responded to the rumors during an appearance on Fox News’ The Ingraham Angle on November 10.

“[Melania] loved her little, tiny office,” he said. “But you know what? She’s very smart. In about one day, she — if you would ask her now, she says, ‘It’s great.’”