The entire White House East Wing has been demolished as President Donald Trump moves forward with a ballroom construction, Associated Press photos on Thursday showed.
The East Wing, where first ladies created history, planned state dinners, and promoted causes, is now history itself. The two-story structure of drawing rooms and offices, including workspace for first ladies and their staffs, has been turned into rubble, demolished as part of the Republican president’s plan to build what he said is now a $300 million ballroom nearly twice the size of the White House.
Trump said Wednesday that keeping the East Wing would have hurt a very, very expensive, beautiful building that he said presidents have wanted for years. He indicated that the costs would be covered by private funds, stating, me and some friends of mine will pay for the ballroom at no cost to taxpayers.
Despite the demolition, there are concerns. The required approvals have not yet been received from relevant government agencies that oversee construction on federal property. Preservationists have also urged the Trump administration to halt the demolition until plans for the 90,000-square-foot (8,361-square-meter) ballroom can go through the necessary public review process.
The East Wing, where first ladies created history, planned state dinners, and promoted causes, is now history itself. The two-story structure of drawing rooms and offices, including workspace for first ladies and their staffs, has been turned into rubble, demolished as part of the Republican president’s plan to build what he said is now a $300 million ballroom nearly twice the size of the White House.
Trump said Wednesday that keeping the East Wing would have hurt a very, very expensive, beautiful building that he said presidents have wanted for years. He indicated that the costs would be covered by private funds, stating, me and some friends of mine will pay for the ballroom at no cost to taxpayers.
Despite the demolition, there are concerns. The required approvals have not yet been received from relevant government agencies that oversee construction on federal property. Preservationists have also urged the Trump administration to halt the demolition until plans for the 90,000-square-foot (8,361-square-meter) ballroom can go through the necessary public review process.
