This past week saw demolition work take place on the White House's East Wing to make way for President Donald Trump's privately funded $300 million ballroom.

The move has attracted controversy from critics, and that controversy grew after a set of trees were taken down. 

Two of the trees were planted to honor former presidents

According to ABC News, satellite images show that at least six trees have been removed from the White House lawn, two of which had historic significance.

Satellite images show that President Trump's project to build a $300 million grand ballroom appears to have removed two historic magnolia trees on the White House grounds, as well as the Jacqueline Kennedy Garden. https://t.co/DyKNsOvhCX

— ABC News (@ABC) October 24, 2025

Both trees were magnolias, with one being planted to honor President Franklin D. Roosevelt while the other was planted in memory of President Warren G. Harding.

The latter was put in place by former First Lady Florence Harding in 1922 northeast of the entrance to the original 1902 East Wing but was subsequently relocated in 1947.

Rose Garden was remade earlier this year

Meanwhile, the Roosevelt tree was planted southeast of the East Wing in 1942 and designated as a commemorative tree just over a decade later.

ABC News published one satellite photo taken on September 9 in which all six trees are clearly visible. Most of the trees are gone in a second photo from September 26, while a third photo taken on October 23 shows all of the trees absent and the East Wing demolished.

What's more, the images reveal that the Jacqueline Kennedy Garden which was located next to the East Wing has also been done away with.

ABC News recalled how Jacqueline Kennedy Garden's removal came just two months after Trump had the Rose Garden remade into a lawn patio.

White House spokesman defends renovations

Fox News reported that former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton slammed the White House renovations in a social media post on Tuesday, writing, "It’s not his house. It’s your house. And he’s destroying it."

Clinton included a screenshot of a Washington Post headline which read, "White House begins demolishing East Wing Facade to build Trump's ballroom."

"These long-needed upgrades will benefit generations of future presidents and American visitors to the People’s House," he added.