Shock sight as whole wing of the White House left in pieces

Demolition of nan White House East Wing has begun arsenic US President Donald Trump adds a $US200 cardinal ($307 million), 8360 quadrate metre ballroom.

CNN observed an excavator tearing down portions of nan East Wing, and close-up video and images captured areas of nan tile torn down and an excavator tearing done nan interior.

Renderings released earlier by nan White House showed that nan ballroom, which nan management has said will beryllium funded by Trump and different backstage donors, would beryllium built complete this area.

White House property caput Karoline Leavitt said earlier this twelvemonth that nan "state ballroom" would inhabit abstraction lodging nan East Wing of nan executive mansion, wherever first ladies person traditionally maintained offices.

The task fulfills a 15-year ambition by nan president to conception an arena abstraction connected nan White House grounds that expands nan building's entertaining capacity — but besides resembles nan gilded spaces of his backstage clubs.

The ballroom is conscionable 1 portion of Trump's efforts to toggle shape nan buildings and grounds to his liking, which person included adding ample flagpoles, paving complete nan Rose Garden, and decorating nan Oval Office successful gold.

"I americium pleased to denote that crushed has been surgery connected nan White House grounds to build nan new, big, beautiful White House Ballroom," Trump posted connected societal media connected Monday.

"Completely abstracted from nan White House itself, nan East Wing is being afloat modernized arsenic portion of this process, and will beryllium much beautiful than ever erstwhile it is complete!"

Renderings provided by nan White House picture a immense abstraction pinch golden and crystal chandeliers, gilded Corinthian columns, a coffered ceiling pinch golden inlays, golden level lamps and a checkered marble floor. Three walls of arched windows look retired complete nan White House's southbound grounds.

The caller ballroom — which will support nan "theme and architectural heritage" of nan neoclassical executive mansion, nan White House said — will person a seated capacity of 650 people, much than 3 times nan abstraction successful nan East Room, nan largest arena abstraction successful nan White House.

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