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US President Donald Trump has stated that the “existing structure” of the White House East Wing is slated for demolition to facilitate the construction of a new $250 million ballroom.
Demolition of portions of the structure commenced on Monday, with two administration officials informing CBS, the BBC’s US partner, that the complete demolition is expected by the weekend.
This marks a significant expansion of the construction project initially announced during the summer. President Trump had previously indicated that the ballroom addition would not “interfere with the current building.”
He refuted allegations of a lack of transparency regarding the extent of the construction, telling reporters on Wednesday, “I think we’ve been more transparent than anyone’s ever been.”
The White House has served as the historic residence of the US president for two centuries. The East Wing was initially constructed in 1902 and underwent its last modification in 1942.
The East Wing houses offices for the First Lady and other staff, and serves as a venue for meetings and special events.
President Trump stated that the building has undergone several modifications over the years, rendering it “very, very much changed from what it was originally.”
He added that it was “never thought of as being much,” and the modifications have been desired “for at least 150 years.”
The construction is being fully funded by President Trump and “some friends of mine – donors.” He also noted the involvement of the military.
The US President announced the commencement of construction in a social media post on Monday, stating that “ground has been broken” on the “much-needed” ballroom space.
He clarified that the East Wing is “completely separate” from the White House, despite being attached to the main structure.
Trump administration officials conveyed to CBS that the modernization of the East Wing to enhance security and technology was always the intention. However, during the planning phase, it became apparent that demolishing the entirety of the East Wing was the optimal course of action.
His remarks followed a letter from the National Trust for Historic Preservation, a Washington-based non-profit organization dedicated to protecting historic US sites, to White House officials expressing “deep concern” regarding the project.
The Trust requested President Trump to suspend demolition work, emphasizing that the White House is a national historic landmark and that officials are obligated to conduct a public review process of the ballroom plan.
Certain Democrats have voiced criticism of the renovation, including Hilary Clinton, who ran against President Trump for the US presidency in 2016.
In a post on X, she stated that the White House is not President Trump’s personal property and that “he’s destroying it.”
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