Philadelphia DA vows to demolish Trump-ordered White House ballroom at future ceremony

At a press event marking the 24th slavery commemoration on Philadelphia’s Independence Mall, District Attorney Larry Krasner declared that the White House ballroom ordered by Donald Trump will be detonated in an official ceremony, with the salvaged pieces sold as paperweights to reimburse taxpayers. He said he intends to keep one as a desk ornament. The statement drew cheers from some attendees, though Lindy Li, a local political strategist, publicly denounced Krasner’s comments.

Krasner linked the demolition to the broader debate over the slavery exhibit at the President’s House site, which has faced legal battles after the Trump administration removed its original panels. He affirmed the exhibit will remain as long as the federal park exists, while also ruling out a Kennedy Center named after Trump. The remarks juxtaposed two unrelated sites—Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia—highlighting Krasner’s broader criticism of Trump’s legacy.