Workers demolish the facade of the East Wing of the White House on Oct. 20, 2025 in Washington, DC.
Kevin Dietsch | Getty Images
The Treasury Department told staff not to share photos of the White House‘s East Wing as parts of it are demolished to build a new ballroom at the behest of President Donald Trump, a spokesperson confirmed to NBC News on Tuesday.
Treasury’s warning came after photos of excavators tearing down parts of the building went viral online Monday in preparation of the planned 90,000 square foot, $250 million ballroom.
In July, Trump said that construction of the ballroom “won’t interfere with the current building.”
“It’ll be near it but not touching it, and pays total respect to the existing building, which I’m the biggest fan of,” Trump said of the White House at the time.
The Treasury Department is located next door to the East Wing, with a clear view of the demolition work.
“Carelessly shared photographs of the White House complex could reveal sensitive items, potentially including security features or confidential structural details,” the Treasury spokesperson told NBC.
“Out of an abundance of caution, we have urged our employees to avoid sharing these images.”
The Wall Street Journal first reported the Treasury’s message.
“Trump’s billionaire ballroom. This is a disgrace. Welcome to the Second Gilded Age,” Rep. Darren Soto, D-Fla., tweeted on Monday, above a photo from The Washington Post showing the demolition work.
Trump has said that he and private donors will finance the construction of the ballroom.
