Roland Emmerich condemns Trump’s demolition of White House east wing

Hollywood director Roland Emmerich criticised U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to tear down the White House’s east wing to make way for a large ballroom. Emmerich, who has depicted the White House’s destruction in three of his films, called the demolition a “political catastrophe” and said First Lady Melania Trump should have opposed it. He described the new ballroom as “gigantomanic” and suggested the move reflected a private rather than political motive.

Emmerich’s remarks were given to a German newspaper, where he also compared the real‑life demolition to scenes from his movies “2012” and “Independence Day,” noting the former’s more nuanced depiction of the White House being flooded and crushed.