A California Democrat has called on presidential hopefuls in the 2028 race to vow to ‘tear down’ Donald Trump‘s $250million golden ballroom ‘on day one.’
Eric Swalwell demanded fellow Democrats considering running in the next election take a firm stand against the ballroom, which is already under construction and has been funded by private donors.
‘Don’t even think of seeking the Democratic nomination for president unless you pledge to take a wrecking ball to the Trump Ballroom on DAY ONE,’ he wrote on X.
Alternatively, he said nominees could consider renaming it to the ‘Barack Obama Ballroom’ after reports emerged last week that Trump plans to name the space ‘The President Donald J. Trump Ballroom.’
‘A Trump monument to corruption will not stand,’ Swalwell added.
Trump is not eligible to run again for president, despite Democrat fears he will try to find a workaround in order to serve a third term.
Democrat frontrunners at this early stage include California Governor Gavin Newsom, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and former Vice President Kamala Harris.
Critics have argued Swalwell’s demands are emblematic of the wider problem within the Democratic Party, which is more focused on tearing down Trump than improving the lives of hardworking Americans.
Demolition is already underway with the East Wing being torn down to pave the way for Trump’s grand new ballroom
He has shared mocked up images of how he plans to bring the ballroom to life
Eric Swalwell demanded fellow Democrats considering running in the next election take a firm stand against the ballroom, which is already under construction and has been funded by private donors
‘Great. Incur unnecessary expenses for show. That’s what we expect from Democrats,’ one critic told Swalwell.
‘Imagine being elected to the House of Representatives and making this your priority,’ another wrote.
‘I can’t believe you think that is a winning message. But in fantasy Democrat land, that’s a winning strategy,’ a third added.
‘Great idea – tear down a brand new addition – worth hundreds of millions of dollars. Pure genius here!’
One supporter described the initiative as a ‘litmus test for all candidates.’
Gavin Newsom, who has become one of Trump’s most outspoken political critics and enemies this year, confirmed that he has ambitions to run for president in 2028.
He has spent months attempting to troll Trump by mimicking his social media style online and has been vehemently opposed to the federalization of the National Guard.
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker has taken a similar approach, attacking Trump’s presidency and making his own mark in the process. While he hasn’t confirmed he intends to run, he refused to rule it out when asked in August.
California Governor Gavin Newsom (left) and Illinois Governor JB Pritzker (right) are considered frontrunners to run in 2028
Ultra left-wing congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is also considered a likely contender in 2028
Former Vice President Kamala Harris, who lost against Trump in 2024 following a short campaign after taking over from Joe Biden, has also not ruled out running again
Ultra left-wing congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is also considered a likely contender in 2028. The 35-year-old would be considered a generational shift for the party, and she is one of the most high profile elected Democrats.
Former Vice President Kamala Harris, who lost against Trump in 2024 following a short campaign after taking over from Joe Biden, has also not ruled out running again.
Trump began demolition work on the century-old East Wing of the White House last week to pave the way for his grand new ballroom.
When the ballroom project was originally announced, the president and White House officials suggested that at least a portion of the East Wing would stay intact.
‘It won’t interfere with the current building,’ the president said at the time. ‘It’ll be near it, but not touching it and pays total respect to the existing building, which I’m the biggest fan of. It’s my favorite.’
But days after demolition began, Trump snapped at a reporter who asked whether he’d been transparent about his plans, given the revelation that the East Wing was being torn down.
Trump also explained his reasoning for destroying the historic building, telling reporters that ‘in order to do it properly, we had to take down the existing structure’
President Donald Trump’s large American flag can be seen in the background as workers tear down the White House’s East Wing on Monday to make room for the $250 million White House ballroom project
Trump finally admitted on Wednesday that the entire East Wing will be demolished
‘I’ve shown this to everyone who would listen,’ Trump said after holding up renderings showing the proposed ballroom. ‘Third-rate reporters didn’t see it because they didn’t look.’
Trump also explained his reasoning for destroying the historic building, telling reporters that ‘in order to do it properly, we had to take down the existing structure.’
He added that he ‘never thought of [it] as being much’ and said the second-story of the East Wing ‘was not particularly nice.’
