Demolition of the White House East Wing Set to Begin

The entirety of the East Wing of the White House will be demolished within days, two Trump administration officials have said. Construction crews began demolishing parts of the structure on Monday, and the project is expected to be complete by the weekend.

This significant expansion comes from a construction project announced by President Donald Trump over the summer, which initially included a $250 million ballroom addition that he claimed would not interfere with the current building.

The East Wing, which has been a part of the White House since its construction in 1902, recently saw modifications last made in 1942. Trump's ambition for the site includes modernizing it for enhanced security and technology, leading to the decision to demolish the structure altogether.

In a social media post, Trump announced that ground has been broken on a much-needed ballroom space that he claims has been dreamt of by each president for over 150 years.

The demolition plans have stirred concern among preservationists. The National Trust for Historic Preservation urged the administration to pause the demolition, arguing that the White House serves as a national historic landmark deserving a public review of the project.

Despite these concerns, Trump expressed enthusiasm for the work, humorously stating that the sound of construction reminds him of money during a meeting with Republican senators.