Some of the most important parts of Women’s American history have just been erased.

As you may have already heard, President Trump has officially demolished the entire East Wing of the White House. He is doing so in order to build a $300 million ballroom. While there are plenty of reasons to find this utterly appalling and upsetting, we at Her Bold Move want to point out another important aspect of this moment.

As written in The 19th, “The East Wing is home to the Office of the First Lady and has played a key role in women’s visibility in the White House.”

Here is a look at the history that was just destroyed:

✅ First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt first “professionalized” the East Wing for official functions, as the base for her activism, and as a space to connect with groups that represented the American people.

The 19th wrote, “From the East Wing, Roosevelt expanded the role of first lady, working to highlight women with intention. Her first news conference, on March 6, 1933, featured 35 reporters, all of them women. During her tenure, she held nearly 350 news conferences, helping to elevate the role of women in national and political life, as well as in journalism.”

✅ Betty Ford fought to increase pay for her staff in the East Wing.

✅ Rosalynn Carter was the First Lady to keep her own offices in the East Wing.

✅ In the East Wing, Laura Bush launched her literary efforts, and it’s where Michelle Obama oversaw her “Let’s Move” campaign.

We could go on and on, but it’s clear. The East Wing is where First Ladies ran their operations, shaped policy, and fought for the values they believed in.

Trump and his enablers are trying to erase and shrink the power of women in our nation. He stripped millions of American women of our bodily autonomy through his judicial appointments. Now, he has destroyed some of our most treasured history.

But Her Bold Move knows women’s power in our government is here to stay. Our organization exists to ensure the trails these women blazed stay paved; and that we only keep building and expanding women’s political power on top of the foundation they built for us.

Her Bold Move is the fastest-growing support network for women running for office across America. We are combating the destruction of the Trump administration by endorsing, electing, and MEANINGFULLY supporting women running for political office. We prioritize the parts of our government in which male legislators hold supermajorities but still find the audacity to make laws that limit women’s rights. Help support our work to fight for women’s empowerment, our rights, and our future by rushing $25 or more today.

Together,

Colleen Davis
Endorsements Manager
Her Bold Move