Extreme Makeover: White House Edition

Today, Explained

Vox

Daily News, Politics, News

4.4 • 9.5K Ratings

🗓️ 27 October 2025

⏱️ 30 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

President Trump demolished part of the White House to make room for a lavish new ballroom. The gold and glitz is part of a broader rebranding project for an America in Trump's image. This episode was produced by Denise Guerra and Kelli Wessinger, edited by Jolie Myers, fact-checked by Laura Bullard, engineered by Patrick Boyd and Adriene Lilly, and hosted by Noel King. Trump has been rolling out plans to renovate the White House and beyond. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images Listen to Today, Explained ad-free by becoming a Vox Member: vox.com/members. New Vox members get $20 off their membership right now. Transcript at ⁠vox.com/today-explained-podcast.⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	The latest thing dividing Americans is President Trump's $300 million or so dollar ballroom.
0:07.5	Nobody's actually seen anything quite like it.
0:11.1	I think it'll be one of the great ballrooms anywhere in the world.
0:14.8	53% of Americans polled disapprove.
0:17.6	A quarter say go for it.
0:19.6	And a quarter aren't sure.
0:21.3	So, he's not using any taxpayer money, but the donated funds are coming from unsettling corporations
0:28.3	like Palantir and unsettling individuals like the Winkleweig.
0:33.0	He tore down the entire East Wing, but the White House was having parties intense on the lawn for lack of a real ballroom.
0:40.0	It's ugly.
0:40.7	That's subjective.
0:41.6	It's the people's house.
0:43.2	And the people voted for Donald Trump.
0:46.6	Today, on Today explained, Demolition Man.
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	...

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