Summary
President Donald Trump has started the demolition of the White House Family Theater, part of the East Wing, to make room for a new ballroom. The theater, which began as a cloakroom in 1942, was a spot for entertainment and significant events for over 80 years.
Key Facts
- The White House Family Theater was originally a cloakroom, converted by President Franklin Roosevelt in 1942.
- It seated approximately 40 people and showed a variety of films, including newsreels and westerns.
- The theater has undergone several renovations, with the last one in 2004 by First Lady Laura Bush.
- Presidents from Bill Clinton to Jimmy Carter have used the theater for movie screenings.
- President Trump is demolishing the theater as part of plans for a new $300 million ballroom.
- The demolition marks the end of an 80-year era for the theater at the White House.
- The White House did not confirm if a new theater will be built.
