“We can confirm that the entire East Wing is going to be modernised and renovated to, I guess, support the ... ballroom project,” the official said.
Demolition workers began tearing down the section of the White House that holds offices for the first lady and other staff on Monday. The official said the demolition process is likely to be finished within two weeks.
The action contradicts Trump’s promise earlier this year that the ballroom project, which he has wanted to build for some time, would not touch the existing East Wing structure.
The demolition of part of one of the most historical buildings in the United States has drawn criticism and sadness from Trump’s critics, including many Democrats. The White House has dismissed the criticism as ‘manufactured outrage’. The White House said later it would submit plans for the ballroom construction
for review by the National Capital Planning Commission, even though demolition had already begun.
&uuid=(email))