If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, SheKnows may receive an affiliate commission. Melania Trump has continued to stay silent about the demolition of the East Wing at the White House as costs have ballooned to $300 million in the last week. Still, the first lady’s ex-aide thinks she has an idea as to how her former boss is feeling. Stephanie Grisham, author of I’ll Take Your Questions Now: What I Saw at the Trump White House, appeared on CNN’s OutFront show on Oct. 23 and shared her insight on how Melania is likely feeling. “I’m sure that the images are shocking to her,” Grisham explained. “I wouldn’t doubt if she too was surprised by seeing them.” Related story Virginia Giuffre Details Trump’s Role in Her Early Encounters With Jeffrey Epstein & Ghislaine Maxwell Melania and her full-time staff of five at the White House have been displaced from the East Wing, and her communications team refused to comment to CNN if they were supportive of the project. That has historical authors like Kate Andersen Brower telling the outlet that Melania isn’t necessarily invested in her husband’s project. “Watching the demolition is the physical embodiment of watching the first lady’s role become smaller and smaller,” Brower said. “She’s making it clear that – like her husband – she’s not going to be like any other first lady. … She doesn’t care about historic precedent, either.” Katherine A.S. Sibley, a professor of history at St. Joseph’s University, echoed Brower’s sentiments to East West Magazine. “She does not seem to have developed a close connection with the Office of First Lady, and the opportunities to make the world a better place that it offers, in the same way that her predecessors have,” Sibley explained. “Over the past nine months since the inauguration, her presence in the East Wing has been limited; perhaps one (to) three visits a month. It’s not a priority, and her lack of commentary at the bulldozing of her own office speaks volumes about that.” Hillary Clinton is the only former first lady speaking up about the issue. She tweeted on X with a snapshot of the destruction on Oct. 21, “It’s not his house. It’s your house. And he’s destroying it.” Otherwise, Laura Bush, Jill Biden, and Michelle Obama have remained silent on the political hot topic. The debate about the White House construction will continue to be polarizing for some time to come, but Melania seems to be keeping her hands off Donald Trump‘s ballroom project. Before you go, click here to see the biggest presidential scandals in US History.