The legendary singer condemns Trump’s $300 million White House ballroom project, calling the East Wing demolition a “symbol of democracy’s destruction.”
Barbra Streisand is once again taking aim at President Donald Trump — this time over his controversial renovation of the White House.
The legendary singer and outspoken Trump critic slammed the president’s ongoing demolition of the East Wing to make room for a massive new ballroom, calling it “a symbol of what he has done to our democracy.”
“Trump lied when he said he would not disturb the existing White House for his ridiculous ballroom,” the 83-year-old entertainer and longtime Democratic donor wrote on Threads Tuesday. “His destruction of the East Wing is symbolic of what he has done to our democracy.”
The comments come after viral images showed construction crews bulldozing the East Wing — a section traditionally used as offices for the First Lady and her staff. The photos triggered widespread outrage online, with critics accusing Trump of erasing history for vanity’s sake. The president has not responded to Streisand’s post, though the White House confirmed that the entire East Wing will be “modernized and rebuilt” as part of the expansion.
Trump, 79, first announced plans for a 90,000-square-foot ballroom earlier this year, claiming he would not “interfere” with the historic building’s structure. But this week, he appeared to celebrate the destruction, calling the sound of demolition “music to my ears.” He also raised the ballroom’s projected cost from $200 million to $300 million and increased its size to 150,000 square feet with space for nearly 1,000 guests — reportedly adorned in gold accents.
The backlash has been swift. Senator Elizabeth Warren posted on X, “This is Trump’s presidency in a single photo: Illegal, destructive, and not helping you.” According to a new YouGov America poll, 53 percent of U.S. adults disapprove of the East Wing demolition. Protesters have flooded the construction company’s review pages with one-star ratings, while thousands joined online rallies opposing the project.
The National Trust for Historic Preservation also issued a statement urging the administration to halt demolition until a public review process takes place. “These processes provide an essential opportunity for transparency and public engagement,” said Carol Quillen, the organization’s president and CEO. “They have guided the preservation of the White House since 1792.”
Streisand, who has long used her platform to criticize Trump, previously released an anti-Trump song in 2018 and has repeatedly spoken out about what she calls the “erosion of democratic values” under his leadership. Over the weekend, she encouraged followers on BlueSky to join the nationwide No Kings March — one of more than 2,600 rallies protesting Trump’s policies.
Trump’s ballroom overhaul is now the most extensive White House renovation since President Harry Truman’s controversial reconstruction between 1948 and 1952 — but with a far louder cultural backlash.
