Historic pictures show destruction of White House East Wing to build Trump's ballroom
Destruction laying the groundwork for Trump's ballroom has begun with the President saying it "pays total respect to the existing building"
The White House has begun demolishing sections of the East Wing to construct President Donald Trump's $250 million ballroom.
This comes despite not having received construction approval from the federal agency responsible for overseeing such projects.
Pictures show construction machinery ripping into the East Wing exterior with windows and other structural components scattered across the ground.
Trump revealed the construction had begun through a social media announcement and mentioned the ongoing work while welcoming 2025 college baseball champions Louisiana State University and LSU-Shreveport in the East Room.
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He pointed out the work was taking place "right behind us. "We have a lot of construction going on, which you might hear periodically," he said, adding: "It just started today."
The White House has proceeded with the enormous construction undertaking despite still awaiting authorization from the National Capital Planning Commission, which grants approval for construction projects and significant renovations to government structures in the Washington region.
Its chairman, Will Scharf, who also serves as the White House staff secretary and ranks among Trump's senior advisors, stated at the commission's September gathering that the agency lacks authority over demolition or site preparation activities for structures on federal land. "What we deal with is essentially construction, vertical build," Scharf stated last month.
"It'll be near it but not touching it and pays total respect to the existing building, which I'm the biggest fan of," Trump has previously said.
1 of 11 Destruction of the White House's East Wing has began with heavy machinery tearing down parts of the iconic building.
(Image:Getty Images)2 of 11 This is all part of Donald Trump's plan to remake the White House in his own image with initial renderings of the ballroom being compared to his gawdy resort Mar-a-lago.
(Image:Getty Images)3 of 11 The ongoing work has been spotted from nearby, despite some of Trump's claims in the past.
(Image:Getty Images)4 of 11 The new ballroom is expected to cost $250m with Trump saying he will pay for it himself.
(Image:Getty Images)5 of 11 The East Wing has historically been the traditional base of operations for the first lady
(Image:Anadolu via Getty Images)
6 of 11 Trump mentioned the ongoing work while welcoming 2025 college baseball champions Louisiana State University and LSU-Shreveport in the East Room.
(Image:AFP via Getty Images)7 of 11 A flag flies above the White House as destruction begins.
(Image:AFP via Getty Images)8 of 11 A rendering shows what the new ballroom will look like.
(Image:McCrery Architects PLLC)
9 of 11 A rendering showing what the ballroom will look like from above.
(Image:McCrery Architects PLLC)10 of 11 The ballroom is expected to be used as a hosting space.
(Image:McCrery Architects PLLC)11 of 11 The works are just part of Trump's wider vision for the White House.
(Image:Getty Images)