Donald Trump DEMOLISHES part of the White House to make way for his new golden ballroom

The East Wing of the White House was being demolished Monday to make room for President Donald Trump’s $250 million gilded ballroom.

Daily Mail photos showed a digger tearing apart the once-pristine structure, which has formed part of the White House complex for more than a century.

Crashes and crashes could be heard throughout the area as some staff and journalists watched construction equipment rip pieces from the walls.

When the ballroom project was first announced, the president and White House officials suggested that at least part of the East Wing would remain intact.

At that time, the president said, ‘It will not interfere with the existing building.’ ‘It will be next to it but not touching it and will show complete respect for the existing building, which I am the biggest fan of. ‘This is my favourite.’

Press secretary Karoline Leavitt was asked if the East Wing would be demolished once the plans are put in place.

‘ he saidnecessary construction will be carried out’ and the East Wing will be ‘modernised’.

Trump used similar language in his post on Truth Social on Monday evening, after images of the destruction began to spread.

Clashes and crashes could be heard throughout the area as some staff and journalists watched construction equipment rip pieces from the walls.

President Donald Trump and White House officials had initially suggested that part of the East Wing would be saved, but at a fundraising dinner last week, the president said the entire structure would be demolished to make room for the ballroom.

‘The East Wing, which is completely separate from the White House, is being fully modernized as part of this process and will be more beautiful than ever when completed!’ Trump said.

Trump announced plans in July to build a 25,000-square-foot grand ballroom that will host state dinners and other official events.

Renderings show a lavish design of crystal chandeliers, gilded columns and gold trim that echoes the opulent aesthetic of the president’s Mar-a-Lago resort.

The new ballroom must be privately financed and Trump must contribute.

Donors include Silicon Valley giants Apple and Google, defense giant Lockheed Martin and telecom provider T-Mobile.

The East Wing, in its original form, was built in 1902 during President Theodore Roosevelt’s term as a small structure that initially served as a public entrance.

It has since been expanded and modified, most notably with the addition of a second story in 1942 to provide offices for First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt and her staff.

Trump hosted a lavish White House dinner last week with the billionaires and corporate executives who financed the ballroom.

President Donald Trump’s large American flag can be seen in the background as workers demolished the East Wing of the White House on Monday to make room for the $250 million White House ballroom project.

The current iteration of the East Wing was completed in 1942, with the addition of a second floor to provide offices for First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt. On Monday, construction equipment was seen tearing through those walls and reducing the East Wing to rubble

The East Wing, traditionally home to the First Lady’s offices, was decorated for Christmas last year.

Guests included oil baron Harold Hamm, Blackstone CEO Steve Schwarzman, Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss.

“We’re here to congratulate you, because you gave an enormous amount of money to see a ballroom built,” he told the cheering crowd Wednesday.

‘It’s going to be a great ballroom between China and Russia and everything else we’re dealing with… It starts right behind us.’

Trump opened the golden curtains behind him to reveal the construction site.

‘It will be demolished,’ he said. ‘Everything outside is being torn down and will be replaced by the most beautiful ballroom.’

The East Room’s golden curtains remained closed to block out noise after construction began Monday, but the president referenced the project while hosting two Louisiana State baseball teams at the White House.

He said the East Room’s main east-facing window would serve as a ‘knockout panel’ and become the entrance door to ‘the most beautiful ballroom in the country’.

“But this is a disabled panel and goes directly into the ballroom,” the President explained. ‘So drinks, cocktails, everything will be on this floor and they’ll say “welcome to dinner” and go into the ballroom.’

Designs for the White House ballroom are similar to those found at President Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate and former hotel in Washington, D.C.

The White House published images of the new ballroom in July. The White House’s existing East Wing will be ‘modernized’ with 90,000 square feet of new space

The president confirmed that construction on the project began Monday during a government shutdown.

The ballroom is expected to seat 1,000 people and be equipped with bulletproof glass.

‘Nothing like this will happen,’ he said. ‘They’re going to get this because of you. And me too. ‘Many of you have been very generous indeed.’

Trump asked one of the donors in the room, “Sir, will $25 million be appropriate?” He shared an anecdote in which he asked:

‘I’ll take it. It doesn’t take much longer than 25 seconds [million dollars] to sort this out.’

He said donors were so generous that he had “money” left over that could be put towards the arch he wants to build across from Arlington National Cemetery.

Trump wanted to build a ballroom in the White House as early as 2010 and initially made the offer to President Barack Obama’s advisor David Axelrod.

The president didn’t like the look of the pop-up tents that First Lady Michelle Obama used to host state dinners at the White House on the South Lawn.

Since Trump took office, he has redecorated the Rose Garden and the Oval Office and is in the process of renovating the Palm Room.