The privately funded ballroom will be approximately 90,000 square feet, much larger than the White House itself.
Key Facts
Photos taken Thursday morning showed nearly all of the East Wing, which was built in 1942 under President Franklin D. Roosevelt, razed to the ground.
Trump in a Truth Social post announced the start of the ballroom’s construction Monday, nearly three months after he first revealed plans to build it without interfering with the East Wing, previously saying the ballroom project “pays total respect to the existing building, which I’m the biggest fan of.”
Since Trump’s comments, the White House has determined demolition of the East Wing was “cheaper and more structurally sound” than building an addition, The New York Times reported, noting the ballroom structure will have enhanced security features.
Demolition of the East Wing’s facade began Monday, with Trump stating the building, which has been home to the Office of the First Lady, the White House visitor’s entrance and more, “is being fully modernized as part of this process.”
The ballroom will be approximately 90,000 square feet, far larger than the 12,000-square-foot East Wing and the 55,000-square-foot White House.
Trump told reporters Wednesday the ballroom will cost about $300 million, a significant jump from the initial $200 million price tag announced by the White House in July.
