In less than a week, a significant section of the White House is gone. On Thursday, the Trump administration finished demolishing the White House East Wing.
What was first said to be only a partial demolition turned into the complete demolition that onlookers witnessed over the last four days. President Donald Trump said the demolition is to allow the construction of a $300 million ballroom. The price tag, much like the demolition plans, has also changed.
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Press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the change in construction cost was due to Trump hearing from architects and builders.
“The plans changed when the president heard counsel from the architects and the construction companies,” she said.
What is Trump’s plan for the East Wing?
Trump said the current White House doesn’t have enough space to host guests. In the original memo announcing the ballroom, the White House said it would fit 650 people. However, recently, Trump said the building could host up to 999.
The Trump administration said that private donations will exclusively fund the ballroom. The White House said it would release a list of where all donations came from but has yet to do so.
On Thursday, Trump said groups have donated $350 million for the project. However, he did not say from whom. He also didn’t confirm how much he plans to give.
“I’ll donate whatever’s needed,” he said.
According to renderings released by the White House, the new building will resemble Trump’s Florida estate, Mar-a-Lago, with gilded walls and royal decor.
While officials have yet to announce an opening date, they say workers will finish before Trump’s second term ends.
Trump has previously renovated the White House. He recently converted the Rose Garden into a patio, installed large flagpoles and decorated an exterior wall with portraits of every president except former President Joe Biden.
While White House officials and Republicans call the major renovations a way to modernize the building, others have criticized the destruction of a major historic building. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., called the demolition “heartbreaking.”
“They filled in the pool. They may have taken out a bowling alley. They haven’t destroyed an entire wing of the White House in a way that is irreversible,” he said. “I think it is just heartbreaking.”
“I mean, you’ve got a builder who has an eye for construction and for excellence. What better person would you want to renovate the White House?” Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., told reporters, referring to Trump.
