Reporters Left Puzzled As Karoline Leavitt Struggles To Clarify Trump’s Ballroom Plan

During Thursday's briefing, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt faced intense scrutiny regarding President Donald Trump's authority to demolish historical structures without oversight. As CBS reporter Weijia Jiang pressed her on whether Trump could tear down iconic sites like the Jefferson Memorial, Leavitt deflected, referencing legal opinions and coining the term “vertical construction” in an attempt to sidestep direct answers. This line of questioning followed Trump's surprising demolition of the East Wing to create a “big, beautiful ballroom,” shocking the nation with images of the destruction. Initially asserting that legal permission wasn't required for demolition, Leavitt later suggested any construction phase would necessitate permits.Despite her efforts to clarify, confusion reigned among social media users and industry professionals, who dismissed her terminology. As Jiang persisted, attempting to clarify if Trump could indeed demolish these landmarks, Leavitt interrupted, maintaining that historical renovations conducted by previous presidents validate current actions. Trump’s ballroom project is now estimated at $300 million, expanding upon earlier claims.