Donald Trump has revealed the “existing structure” of the White House’s historic East Wing will be torn down to make way for his new ballroom, despite previously saying the construction would not “interfere” with the building.
“In order to do it properly, we had to take down the existing structure,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Wednesday.
The move has sparked anger from Democrats, with Hillary Clinton, who ran against Trump in 2016, writing on X: “It’s not his house. It’s your house. And he’s destroying it.”
Gavin Newsom, the Governor of California and a prominent critic of Trump, said the demolition of the East Wing was “perfect symbolism”.
“This is a wrecking ball presidency,” he wrote.
Others expressed offence at the plans.
Edward Lengel, who was chief historian of the White House Historical Association during Trump’s first term, told CNN “all of the founders would be disgusted”.
US Senator Angus King, an independent of Maine, said: “President Trump’s desecration of the White House is an insult to the American people and a betrayal of his obligation to safeguard our history and heritage.”
The White House has dismissed criticism as “manufactured outrage.”
Trump held an artist rendering of the new White House ballroom while meeting with Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte in the Oval Office (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)Trump also revealed the project would cost $300m, an increase from its initial $200m price tag announced in July.
He said he and private donors are paying for the ballroom, but he has not released full financing details.
Trump also dismissed concerns that his administration had not been transparent about the project, and called a journalist who asked about such concerns as a “third-rate reporter”.
“I think we’ve been more transparent than anybody’s ever been,” he insisted.
“These pictures have been in newspapers,” Trump said, referencing photos he had in the Oval Office of how the ballroom is to look like when finished.
A model of the project was situated on a table in front of him.
Trump was seated by a rendering of his proposed White House ballroom (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)Demolition workers on Monday began ripping down the section of the White House that holds offices for the first lady and staff.
An administration official said the demolition process would likely be finished within two weeks. “We can confirm that the entire East Wing is going to be modernised and renovated to, I guess, support the … ballroom project,” the official said.
The White House said on Tuesday it would submit plans for the ballroom construction for review by the National Capital Planning Commission, which oversees federal construction, even though demolition had already begun.
US presidents have renovated and added to the White House and its grounds throughout history, but Trump’s changes are the most significant in decades.
In July Trump said the ballroom plans would “not interfere with the current building”.
“It’ll be near it, but not touching it, and pays total respect to the existing building, which I’m the biggest fan of,” he said at the time.
On Wednesday he justified the demolition, saying “not much” was left of the original construction.
Trump said part of the White House was more than a century-old and ready to be replaced but that “certain areas are being left.”
Hence then, the article about wrecking ball presidency trump s white house east wing demolition sparks outcry was published today ( ) and is available on inews ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( ‘Wrecking ball presidency’ – Trump’s White House East Wing demolition sparks outcry )
Also on site :