White House begins demolishing part of East Wing for Trump ballroom
Demolition crews started the process of tearing down part of the White House East Wing on Monday to begin construction on President Trump’s planned ballroom.
"It just started today, so that's good luck," the president said during an event in the East Room hosting theLouisiana State University (LSU) and LSU Shreveport national championship baseball teams
Trump noted that there will be a knockout panel behind where he delivered the remarks in the East Room that will go into the new ballroom.
"I don't think it will be topped," the president said, referring to the project.
Videos and pictures of the demolition surfaced earlier on Monday. The Washington Post reported members of the Secret Service and others watched the demolition from the steps of the Treasury Department. The activity could reportedly be heard on the White House campus.
The ballroom’s construction is slated to cost $200 million.
The White House has said the 90,000 square foot event space would be constructed next to where the East Wing is located. It historically has served as a space for first ladies and members of their staff. The administration's goal is to complete the ballroom before Trump’s second term wraps in 2029.
The president has touted the ballroom as a space where he and future presidents can hold state dinners, and gatherings with other notable figures.
“We’ve been planning it for a long time,” the president said in August. “They’ve wanted a ballroom at the White House for more than 150 years. There’s never been a president that was good at ballrooms. I’m really good.”
Trump added that no government funds will be used to construct the ballroom.
Last week, the president hosted a dinner for donors helping to fund the ballroom’s construction in the East Room. Attendees included representatives from Microsoft, Google, Palantir and other companies, as well as wealthy figures such as Blackstone CEO Steve Schwarzman, Cameron Winklevoss and Tyler Winklevoss.
However, plans for the ballroom have angered critics who have called it a vanity project and a distraction.
NewsNation's Kellie Meyer contributed
