A viral photo showing the demolished East Wing of the White House has sparked a wave of false claims online — including one suggesting that Michelle Obama’s official portrait was destroyed in the process. Social media posts widely alleged that the portrait was part of the demolition to make space for President Donald Trump’s planned $200 million ballroom. However, these claims are unfounded. The portrait of former First Lady Michelle Obama, unveiled in 2022, hangs in the Ground Floor Corridor of the White House — a completely separate section from the East Wing that was torn down.
What people are saying
Several users on the social media claimed that Michelle Obama’s portrait has also been demolished along with the right wing. One of the user on X said, “Trump tore down this portrait of Michelle Obama that was in the East Wing! Is that what you voted for?” Another user said, “Michelle Obama Supporters are upset: lTrump tore down this portrait of Michelle Obama that was in the East Wing! They want to know is this what you voted for?”
Is Michelle Obama’s portrait really demolished?
White House spokesperson Davis Ingle confirmed to Snopes that the portrait remains intact. “The Michelle Obama portrait was never even in the East Wing to begin with, and everything that was in the East Wing was preserved,” Ingle said. No credible media outlet or official source has reported any damage to the portrait. The demolition comes amid growing online comparisons between renovations made under former President Obama and Trump’s new ballroom project. One widely shared but false post claimed Obama spent over $376 million building a White House basketball court. According to the White House, the new ballroom — estimated to cost around $300 million — will be entirely funded through private donations, not taxpayer money. The funds are being managed by the nonprofit Trust for the National Mall, with contributions reportedly coming from major corporations, defense contractors, crypto firms, and wealthy individuals. Among the donors, YouTube (a subsidiary of Google) reportedly directed $22 million from a legal settlement toward the ballroom fund.
