Trump's White House ballroom, the East Wing demolition and his Washington arch

Key momentsthe most covered; every story is below

Who covered it, over timeindependent sources per week, by side

LeftCenterRight

Point at or tap a week to see its count by side.

Stories before June 28, 2026 come from archived pages, so who covered them is limited to the outlets we recovered for that period.

25% left · 56% center · 19% right of 275 independent sources among the outlets we track, across 82 stories.

Every storyoldest first

1. July 2025

   Jul 29– Aug 1White House announces new $200M ballroom as part of Trump's latest makeover of 'The People's House'32 articles · 26 independent sources

   3 left, 10 center, 5 right

2. October 2025

   Oct 16– 17Trump unveils plans for ‘Arc de Trump’ near Lincoln Memorial20 articles · 18 independent sources

   0 left, 9 center, 2 right
3. Oct 16Trump hosts ballroom donors to White House dinner7 articles · 6 independent sources

   2 left, 3 center, 1 right
4. Oct 20– 21White House demolition begins for Trump's ballroom: See the pics67 articles · 35 independent sources

   4 left, 14 center, 3 right
5. Oct 20– 24Photos show the White House East Wing before and after demolition began to make way for Trump's ballroom90 articles · 44 independent sources

   14 left, 19 center, 4 right
6. Oct 21Hillary Clinton: Trump ‘destroying’ White House with demolition for ballroom5 articles · 5 independent sources

   0 left, 1 center, 4 right
7. Oct 21– 23Here are the corporations and donors footing the bill for Trump’s new White House ballroom24 articles · 23 independent sources

   8 left, 6 center, 2 right
8. Oct 242 historic magnolia trees, Kennedy Garden appear to have been removed for White House ballroom6 articles · 2 independent sources

   0 left, 2 center, 0 right
9. Oct 24From crypto billionaires to cabinet members: What to know about the donors paying for Trump’s ballroom20 articles · 8 independent sources

   0 left, 2 center, 1 right
10. Oct 24– 25Trump slams reports he plans to name White House ballroom after himself: ‘Fake news’8 articles · 6 independent sources

    1 left, 3 center, 2 right
11. Oct 30Americans largely oppose Trump tearing down White House East Wing for ballroom: Poll7 articles · 2 independent sources

    0 left, 2 center, 0 right

12. November 2025

    Nov 3– 4Most Trump Ballroom Donors Have Federal Contracts, Watchdog Says6 articles · 6 independent sources

    3 left, 1 center, 1 right

13. December 2025

    Dec 4– 5White House brings in new architect for Trump's sprawling $300 million ballroom17 articles · 13 independent sources

    3 left, 4 center, 2 right
14. Dec 12National Trust sues Trump over White House ballroom construction5 articles · 4 independent sources

    2 left, 1 center, 0 right
15. Dec 12– 13Trump sued by preservationists seeking reviews and congressional approval for ballroom project29 articles · 24 independent sources

    1 left, 11 center, 2 right
16. Dec 16Trump admin says White House ballroom construction is a matter of national security16 articles · 12 independent sources

    1 left, 3 center, 2 right
17. Dec 17Federal judge allows Trump's White House ballroom construction to move forward9 articles · 5 independent sources

    0 left, 1 center, 2 right

18. January 2026

    Jan 8– 9White House details plans for Trump's expansive new ballroom19 articles · 14 independent sources

    2 left, 5 center, 3 right
19. Jan 17Trump quietly appoints 4 members to commission that will review his White House ballroom plan10 articles · 6 independent sources

    1 left, 3 center, 0 right
20. Jan 22– 23Trump appointees question White House ballroom's design and scale, ask to see 3D models7 articles · 7 independent sources

    2 left, 2 center, 0 right

21. February 2026

    Feb 19Arts panel made up of Trump appointees approves his White House ballroom proposal29 articles · 23 independent sources

    3 left, 7 center, 3 right
22. Feb 26– 27Judge rejects request to block Trump White House from building its $400 million ballroom project20 articles · 15 independent sources

    1 left, 6 center, 1 right

23. March 2026

    Mar 30– 31Trump says military building 'massive complex' beneath new White House ballroom30 articles · 17 independent sources

    2 left, 7 center, 6 right
24. Mar 31– Apr 5Trump administration asks appeals court to pause order halting White House ballroom construction26 articles · 17 independent sources

    2 left, 6 center, 1 right
25. Mar 31– Apr 1Judge orders Trump administration to halt White House ballroom construction unless Congress OKs it56 articles · 37 independent sources

    6 left, 12 center, 7 right
26. Mar 31– Apr 3Trump ballroom approved by panel, remains stalled by judge31 articles · 29 independent sources

    3 left, 11 center, 4 right

27. April 2026

    Apr 10– 11Trump's Washington arch plan includes golden-winged figure, eagles, lions and ‘One Nation Under God'13 articles · 11 independent sources

    0 left, 3 center, 3 right
28. Apr 10– 11Renderings revealed for Trump’s 250-foot Triumphal Arch22 articles · 7 independent sources

    2 left, 3 center, 2 right
29. Apr 11– 12Appeals court rules Trump's White House ballroom construction can temporarily move forward16 articles · 12 independent sources

    1 left, 2 center, 4 right
30. Apr 16Federal agency approves concept for Trump's plan for a Triumphal Arch in Washington9 articles · 9 independent sources

    1 left, 2 center, 0 right
31. Apr 16Judge again halts construction of Trump's White House ballroom, but allows work on underground bunker to proceed9 articles · 9 independent sources

    3 left, 3 center, 3 right
32. Apr 18– 19Appeals court allows Trump's White House ballroom construction to continue into June15 articles · 13 independent sources

    1 left, 4 center, 3 right
33. Apr 25– 27Trump uses the correspondents' dinner shooting to renew his White House ballroom push44 articles · 23 independent sources

    5 left, 6 center, 4 right
34. Apr 27Group says it won't drop its White House ballroom lawsuit, despite DOJ pressure5 articles · 5 independent sources

    1 left, 0 center, 3 right

35. May 2026

    May 5– 6Republicans seek $1B in taxpayer cash for Trump's ballroom project, once touted as privately funded33 articles · 19 independent sources

    10 left, 5 center, 1 right
36. May 5– 6GOP bill would fund $1B in White House security upgrades for Trump’s ballroom21 articles · 16 independent sources

    2 left, 4 center, 2 right
37. May 12Senate Republicans move ahead with $1B for Trump's ballroom security as Democrats pledge to fight5 articles · 5 independent sources

    1 left, 2 center, 0 right
38. May 15Trump says White House ballroom construction ahead of schedule; here’s when it will be completed14 articles · 3 independent sources

    1 left, 2 center, 0 right
39. May 17– 21Senate Republicans expected to ditch $1bn funding plan for Trump’s ballroom13 articles · 10 independent sources

    3 left, 2 center, 3 right
40. May 19– 20Trump shows ballroom worksite as lawmakers balk at $1B for White House security9 articles · 5 independent sources

    1 left, 2 center, 0 right
41. May 21Key federal agency approves the design plan for Trump’s Washington arch14 articles · 14 independent sources

    3 left, 2 center, 2 right
42. May 21Republicans likely to drop $1B White House ballroom security proposal13 articles · 6 independent sources

    0 left, 4 center, 0 right

43. June 2026

    Jun 5Trump ballroom construction should not be up to courts, government attorney argues in appeals case5 articles · 5 independent sources

    1 left, 2 center, 0 right
44. Jun 10– 11Trump's arch construction schedule could require '20 hours per day, year-round,' NPS report says20 articles · 6 independent sources

    0 left, 4 center, 0 right

45. July 2026

    Jul 9– 12Trump's proposed arch gets preliminary site approval48 articles · 32 independent sources

    3 left, 8 center, 4 right

46. August 2026

    Aug 3– 4Trump's arch could harm the integrity of many of Washington's historical sites, report says31 articles · 21 independent sources

    2 left, 3 center, 2 right
47. Aug 7– 8Appeals court rules Trump can't build White House ballroom without congressional approval18 articles · 13 independent sources

    1 left, 3 center, 1 right
48. Aug 7– 10Appeals court blocks Trump’s $400 million White House ballroom project27 articles · 26 independent sources

    5 left, 5 center, 11 right
49. Aug 7– 8Appeals court blocks Trump's White House ballroom construction8 articles · 2 independent sources

    0 left, 2 center, 0 right
50. Aug 7– 8President Trump will take fight over White House ballroom construction to Supreme Court after appeals court block7 articles · 3 independent sources

    0 left, 3 center, 0 right
51. Aug 13– 14Senate Democrats call for GAO audit of White House ballroom project3 articles · 3 independent sources

    1 left, 2 center, 0 right
52. Aug 14– 15Trump asks Supreme Court to allow White House ballroom construction to continue51 articles · 32 independent sources

    4 left, 9 center, 2 right
53. Aug 14President Trump asks Supreme Court to let White House resume ballroom construction during appeal56 articles · 20 independent sources

    2 left, 2 center, 1 right
54. Aug 14Trump admin says White House ballroom 'beyond the point of no return' in Supreme Court appeal8 articles · 1 independent sources

    0 left, 1 center, 0 right
55. Aug 15Trump Claims White House Ballroom Foes Revealed 'Top Military Secrets'8 articles · 8 independent sources

    0 left, 3 center, 5 right
56. Aug 16– 17Trump says White House needs ‘military complex’ as courts block his ballroom4 articles · 4 independent sources

    0 left, 1 center, 1 right
57. Aug 17Blanche: Congress has already approved White House ballroom project3 articles · 3 independent sources

    0 left, 1 center, 1 right
58. Aug 18Preservation group urges Supreme Court to suspend Trump's White House ballroom project12 articles · 12 independent sources

    2 left, 3 center, 1 right
59. Aug 21– 22Supreme Court chief justice allows work on Trump’s $400M White House ballroom to continue for now29 articles · 27 independent sources

    2 left, 5 center, 10 right
60. Aug 21Supreme Court chief justice allows work on White House ballroom to continue for now11 articles · 6 independent sources

    0 left, 4 center, 0 right
61. Aug 21– 23Supreme Court temporarily allows construction of White House ballroom to continue22 articles · 20 independent sources

    3 left, 9 center, 2 right
62. Aug 21– 22Supreme Court's chief justice allows work on Trump’s $400M White House ballroom to continue for now10 articles · 8 independent sources

    1 left, 3 center, 0 right
63. Aug 21– 22Chief Justice Roberts briefly allows White House ballroom construction16 articles · 5 independent sources

    2 left, 2 center, 1 right
64. Aug 21Supreme Court lets White House ballroom work continue6 articles · 1 independent sources

    1 left, 1 center, 1 right
65. Aug 22– 24Secret White House bunker undercuts Trump’s ballroom lawsuit, ex-officials say7 articles · 7 independent sources

    2 left, 2 center, 1 right
66. Aug 25– 28AG Blanche scolds Philly DA Krasner for ‘blow up’ ballroom comments15 articles · 14 independent sources

    1 left, 2 center, 10 right
67. Aug 26– Sep 2Supreme Court allows Trump’s White House ballroom construction114 articles · 78 independent sources

    16 left, 18 center, 13 right
68. Aug 28– 29National Park Service backs Trump’s arch, despite its impact on Washington’s sightline21 articles · 18 independent sources

    1 left, 5 center, 0 right

69. September 2026

    Sep 1John Roberts often defers to Trump but not for the White House ballroom project8 articles · 8 independent sources

    0 left, 1 center, 0 right
70. Sep 1– 3Lawyer explains why Supreme Court is allowing Trump's new White House ballroom to be built5 articles · 5 independent sources

    3 left, 1 center, 0 right
71. Sep 3– 6Is work starting for Trump’s arch? It depends who’s asking66 articles · 42 independent sources

    8 left, 13 center, 6 right
72. Sep 4Work to begin on Trump's 250-foot arch despite criticism6 articles · 1 independent sources

    1 left, 1 center, 1 right
73. Sep 4– 5Judge reinforces order barring immediate work on Trump arch in Washington9 articles · 3 independent sources

    3 left, 1 center, 1 right
74. Sep 16– 19Trump arch could have ‘adverse effects’ on nearby DC monuments, US park service says11 articles · 10 independent sources

    4 left, 1 center, 3 right
75. Sep 17– 18FAA gives approval for Trump’s arch, says it won’t interfere with flights11 articles · 11 independent sources

    1 left, 3 center, 1 right
76. Sep 18– 20FAA says proposed Trump arch will require 'eternal flame' on top to alert pilots23 articles · 10 independent sources

    3 left, 2 center, 1 right
77. Sep 20– 22Trump wants to use Washington arch as military complex for drones and snipers110 articles · 75 independent sources

    14 left, 25 center, 10 right
78. Sep 21Trump’s new plan for D.C. arch faces immediate backlash: 'This is so stupid'3 articles · 3 independent sources

    0 left, 1 center, 0 right
79. Sep 21House Republican signals opposition to using military funds for Trump’s arch3 articles · 3 independent sources

    0 left, 2 center, 1 right
80. Sep 23Trump says his ballroom will house a drone port. The Secret Service already has one next door10 articles · 10 independent sources

    3 left, 2 center, 0 right
81. Sep 23– 24Trump to Ballroom Architect: “I Am the Code”5 articles · 5 independent sources

    3 left, 1 center, 1 right
82. Sep 23Preservation group launches legal defense fund as it battles Trump over ballroom and other projects6 articles · 6 independent sources

    1 left, 1 center, 0 right