U.S. President Donald Trump has approved the White House’s East Wing to be demolished to create room for his gilded $250 million ballroom.
According to the Daily Mail, photos showed a backhoe ripping into the once-pristine structure, which has been part of the complex for more than a century.
On Monday, banging and crashing could be heard throughout the area, as staff and journalists watched on.
Trump had suggested that a part of the East Wing would stay intact when he originally announced the ballroom project.
“It won’t interfere with the current building,” Trump said at the time.
“It’ll be near it, but not touching it and pays total respect to the existing building, which I’m the biggest fan of. It’s my favorite.”
Press secretary Karoline Leavitt was also asked if the East Wing would be demolished when the plans were rolled out.
Leavitt replied that the “necessary construction will take place” and the East Wing will be “modernized.”
