Donald Trump demolishes part of the White House for $250 million ballroom
Donald Trump is having part of the East Wing demolished so he can have a grand, 25,000 square feet ballroom to accommodate state dinners and other formal events
Incredible photographs show construction teams tear down part of the White House - to make way for Donald Trump's glitzy ballroom thought to cost $250 million (£185 million).
The US President had said the new suite, which will accommodate state dinners and other formal events, "wouldn't interfere with the current building". However, the majority of the East Wing was yesterday being demolished as part of the project.
Machinery was seen ripping into the once-pristine structure which has formed part of the White House for more than one century. Banging and crashing were heard throughout the area, as journalists watched construction equipment tear chunks out of the walls.
When footage of the work was shared on X, formerly Twitter, last night, Mr Trump, 79, again defended the work. He posted on Truth Social: "Completely separate from the White House itself, the East Wing is being fully modernised as part of this process, and will be more beautiful than ever when it is complete."
READ MORE: Virginia Giuffre's family say she was 'gaslit' by UK police and UK and US governmentREAD MORE: Trump meeting with Zelensky descends into 'shouting match' with 'swearing'His post reflects comments previously made by his press secretary Karoline Leavitt who, when asked point-blank if the East Wing would be demolished when the plans were rolled out, said the East Wing will be "modernised".
But it looks to be nearly gone entirely, amid plans Mr Trump wants to build a grand, 25,000 square feet ballroom. He announced the vision in July, stating any changes would "pay total respect to the existing building".
Yet other brash amendments to his the official residence since then have been branded as "Versailles meets Vegas" - with golden cherubs, tacky umbrellas to 100ft flagpoles, and giant paintings of himself put up inside the grand building.
The new ballroom, though, is supposed to be privately funded, with Mr Trump chipping in himself. Donors include Silicon Valley titans, Apple and Google, defense behemoth Lockheed Martin, and telecom provider, T-Mobile.
Constructed in 1902 during President Theodore Roosevelt's tenure, the East Wing, in its original form, was designed initially as a small structure to serve as the public entrance. It has since been expanded and modified, notably with the addition of a second story in 1942 to provide offices for First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt and her staff.
But last month, unveiling the construction site. Mr Trump told some of the donors: "It will be demolished. Everything out there is coming down and it will be replaced by the most beautiful ballroom."
On Monday, once construction started, the gold curtains in the East Room remained closed to drown out any noise, but the president referenced the project as he hosted two Louisiana State baseball teams at the White House.