Michelle Obama is sharing her thoughts on Donald Trump's White House renovations. The former first lady was featured in a podcast, where she shared her thoughts on the demolition of the East Wing, a section of the White House that included the First Lady's office.
Michelle was featured on the "Jamie Kern Lima Show," where she shared what she felt when she learned that the historic home was being renovated.
“It's not about me, it's about us and our traditions and what they stand for. I think in my body I felt confusion because I'm like, ‘Well, who are we? What do we value and who decides that?’” she said.
“That's the thing that's going through my head a lot lately. ‘Who are we? What are the rules?’ Because I'm confused by what are our norms and our mores, not the laws, but how do we live together? That's the part of it that hurts. It's not the house… I'm just, you know, just trying to understand the assignment. And so I think I felt a loss for us as a nation.”
Michelle shared that, even though she lived in the White House, she didn't consider the place her own. “Personally, you know, that's not our house,” she said. “That's the People's House.”
The East Wing has been the home of the first lady's office and her staff, and was built in 1902. In 1942, a second story was added.
More details about the White House renovation
Earlier this year, it was announced that the Trump administration was renovating the White House, adding a larger ballroom. In the past, Trump has made it clear that the White House's ballroom is too small, only having capacity for 200 people.
The new structure will be able to host 999 people, with the room measuring 90,000 sq ft. It has an expected price of $200 million. According to development photos, the ballroom is similar to those in Mar-a-Lago, Trump's home in Florida. The administration plans to have the ballroom ready by January 2029, near the end of Trump's term as President.
"You probably hear the beautiful sound of construction in the back... When I hear that sound, it reminds me of money," said Trump.
The renovation has sparked some backlash from different politicians. "It's not his house. It's your house. And he's destroying it," wrote Hillary Clinton on X.