Editor's note: This article was originally published in The Surveyor, YouGov America's weekly email newsletter. It has been revised for publication here. Subscribe to The Surveyor for regular updates on YouGov's polling.
A majority of Americans say they've seen photos or videos of this week's sudden demolition of the East Wing of the White House, part of a renovation project led by President Donald Trump. And almost twice as many Americans strongly or somewhat disapprove of the demolition as approve of it (54% vs. 28%).
As with many things in American politics, views on the East Wing's destruction are split by political party: A majority of Republicans approve of the demolition, while most Democrats disapprove. But Democrats are much more likely to oppose the project (7% approve vs. 84% disapprove) than Republicans are to support it (58% vs. 23%). A majority of Independents disapproves (19% vs. 56%).
43% of Americans strongly disapprove of demolishing the East Wing, while 16% strongly approve.
Older Americans are more likely to back the demolition than younger adults, with 42% of those 65 and older approving, compared to 20% of those 18 to 29. But these differences by age are also reflecting political splits.
Older liberals and moderates are less supportive than younger liberals and moderates of the demolition. For example, among liberals 45 and older, 3% approve of the demolition and 94% disapprove, a net approval of -91. That's more opposition than 18- to 44-year-old liberals, where 8% approve and 84% disapprove, a net of -76.
In contrast, older conservatives are substantially more likely than younger conservatives to approve of the East Wing's destruction. Among conservatives 18 to 44, 46% approve and 34% disapprove, a net of +12 — much smaller than the net approval of +44 among conservatives 45 and older (64% approve, 20% disapprove).
YouGov asked Americans about the East Wing several times this week. Overall opinion didn't change much from Tuesday, October 21 — when "the decision to demolish part of the East Wing" received a net approval of -29 — to Thursday, when "the decision to demolish the entire East Wing" registered a net approval of -26. (The second survey question directly mentioned the ballroom; in the first survey, the ballroom was mentioned in a prior question and later referred to as a renovation.)
But views on the demolition became more divided by party in the two days between asking about a partial and a full demotion . Democrats became more negative about the project, from a net approval of -67 to a net of -77. Republicans became much more supportive, with net approval rising from +17 to +35.
See the results of these polls:
- Have you seen any photos or videos of the East Wing of the White House being demolished?
- Do you approve or disapprove of the decision to demolish the entire East Wing of the White House as part of the construction of a new ballroom?
- Which of the following best describes your view of how White House renovations should generally be funded?
- Do you approve or disapprove of the decision to demolish part of the East Wing of the White House as part of the renovation?
Methodology: One Daily Questions survey was conducted online on October 21, 2025. among 2,038 U.S. adults. A second was conducted October 23 among 2,326 U.S. adults. The samples were weighted according to gender, age, race, education, U.S. census region, and political party. The margin of error for the first survey is approximately 2.5%; for the second it is approximately 3%.
Image: Getty (Eric Lee)
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