A part of the White House dating back to 1902 is now a pile of rubble after Donald Trump began the destruction of the East Wing to make way for his prized ballroom.
For more than 100 years, the East Wing served as the traditional base of operations for the first lady.
This week, work started despite lacking approval for construction from the federal agency that oversees such projects.
Dramatic photos of the demolition work showed construction equipment tearing into the East Wing facade and windows and other building parts in tatters on the ground.
Reporters watched in shock from a park near the Treasury Department, which is next to the East Wing.
‘We have a lot of construction going on, which you might hear periodically’ Trump said.
The White House has moved ahead with the massive construction project without having a sign-off from the National Capital Planning Commission, which approves construction work and major renovations to government buildings in the Washington area.
The NCPC chairman, Will Scharf, who is also the White House staff secretary and one of Trump’s top aides, claimed the agency does not have jurisdiction over demolition or site preparation work for buildings on federal property.
It was unclear whether the White House had submitted the ballroom plans for the agency’s review and approval.
In July, when Trump first announced the ballroom, he said it would not interfere with the mansion itself.
‘It’ll be near it but not touching it and pays total respect to the existing building, which I’m the biggest fan of,’ he said of the White House.
The destruction has infuriated civilians and politicians alike – California governor Gavin Newsom wrote on X: ‘Ripping apart the White House just like he’s ripping apart the Constitution.’
The East Wing houses several offices, including those of the first lady. It was built in 1902 and has been renovated over the years, with a second storey added in 1942, according to the White House.
Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, said those East Wing offices will be temporarily relocated during construction and that wing of the building will be modernised and renovated.
Trump insists that presidents have desired such a ballroom for 150 years and that he is adding the massive 90,000-square-foot, glass-walled space because the East Room, which is the largest room in the White House with an approximate 200-person capacity, is too small.
The ballroom will be the biggest structural change to the executive mansion since the addition in 1948 of the Truman Balcony overlooking the South Lawn, even dwarfing the residence itself.
The White House has said it will disclose information on who has contributed money to build the ballroom, but has yet to do so.
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