Work has officially commenced on President Donald Trump’s proposed $250 million White House ballroom, seemingly necessitating the demolition of a section of the East Wing.
On Monday, Trump confirmed in a that construction of the ballroom had “just started.” The same day, photos and circulated, indicating demolition was active on the East Wing. initially reported the activity.
In July, upon announcing the ballroom’s forthcoming construction, the White House that it would be situated “where the small, heavily changed, and reconstructed East Wing currently sits,” adding that the “White House Ballroom will be substantially separated from the main building of the White House.”
Trump himself had previously stated that the 90,000-square-foot expansion would not “interfere with the current building.”
“It will be close to it but not in contact with it—and shows complete deference to the current structure, of which I am the biggest admirer. It’s my favorite. It’s my favorite location. I adore it,” Trump remarked during an Executive Order signing in July.
On Monday, Trump described the East Wing as “entirely distinct from the White House itself.”
“The East Wing is undergoing a complete modernization as part of this endeavor, and will be more magnificent than ever upon its completion!” the President on Truth Social.
The Administration has yet to respond to TIME’s inquiry for additional specifics regarding the ballroom’s construction.
Earlier in the day, the President mentioned that the venue would accommodate 999 individuals, significantly surpassing the East Room’s capacity. The expansion itself has the potential to almost double the current structure’s size.
Last week, Trump hosted approximately 130 donors and supporters to commemorate their committed contributions to the ballroom. A White House official indicated that companies such as Amazon, Coinbase, Google, and T-Mobile were among those present at the dinner.
The White House’s July announcement noted that the East Wing was built in 1902, has undergone numerous renovations, and had its second floor added in 1942. It further stated that McCrery Architects would spearhead the design, and Clark Construction would handle the building of the ballroom, which the White House indicated is “expected to be completed long before the end of President Trump’s term.”
In August, Trump refurbished the White House Rose Garden, incorporating white and yellow-striped umbrellas akin to those found at his Mar-a-Lago private club in Palm Beach, Florida.
Trump has stated that he previously proposed building a ballroom during the Obama and Biden Administrations, but both administrations declined the offer.
“We will possess the most magnificent ballroom in the nation,” Trump declared on Monday.