President Donald Trump fired back at Michelle Obama’s criticism of his plan to replace the East Wing of the White House with a new ballroom, defending the project as one of the finest in the world.

“The East Wing is being spent by private donors. It’s a $250, $300 million building. It’s going to be the most beautiful anywhere in the world,” Trump said during an interview with Laura Ingraham.

He explained that the project was needed to bring the White House up to modern standards. Trump said the current space couldn’t even handle major events properly.

“They had an event [at the White House] the other day. With tables, they could hold 79 people. Now, if you have President Xi from China, or if you have some big state event, we have no place to have it,” he said.

Trump continued, “You know what they did? … They will put a tent on the lawn. It was a low section because that’s the only section you have… If it rained, you were sitting in six inches of water. It was a disaster.”

His comments came after Michelle Obama accused him of disrespecting history by tearing down the East Wing, which traditionally housed the First Lady’s offices.

“When we talk about the East Wing, it is the heart of the work [of a first lady],” she said, according to Vanity Fair. “And to denigrate it, to tear it down, to pretend like it doesn’t matter, it’s a reflection of how you think of that role.”

During an NBC appearance, Obama also criticized Trump’s decision to proceed with the demolition, saying, “There’s no guidebook. There’s barely a staff. Now we don’t have a building.”

The former First Lady’s comments drew attention from other Democrats as well, including Rep. Eric Swalwell, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, and former White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre. All joined in expressing disapproval of Trump’s construction project.

But Trump pushed back, saying the criticism ignores how many times the East Wing had already been renovated and changed over the decades.

“That building was renovated 20 times, including adding a floor to the top, which was terrible,” Trump said. “It looked like hell. It had nothing to do with the original building, and I didn’t want to sacrifice a great ballroom for an okay ballroom by leaving it right smack in the middle.”

The new 90,000-square-foot addition will be the first permanent ballroom in White House history, designed in a classical style to match the rest of the building. It will allow the U.S. to host large state functions without using temporary outdoor tents or rented facilities.

Trump has said repeatedly that the ballroom will not only serve as a space for major events but will also symbolize America’s prestige to the world. The project is being entirely funded by private donors, not taxpayers.

While critics accuse him of vanity, Trump insists his goal is to enhance the White House’s global stature and functionality. Supporters have praised the move, saying the new ballroom represents Trump’s focus on restoring grandeur and pride to America’s most famous residence.

The East Wing demolition began earlier this fall, with construction teams clearing debris and laying the groundwork for the new structure. Photos show heavy machinery working near the historic building as preparations continue.

Despite backlash from the left, the renovation marks one of the largest White House upgrades since Roosevelt’s era. Trump has said it’s long overdue and will give future presidents a world-class venue worthy of the United States.

“It’s going to be the most beautiful anywhere in the world,” Trump repeated. “We’re doing something really special for America.”