Mr. Trump was unsentimental as news of the demolition spread.
“It was never thought of as being much,” he said of the East Wing, which was home to the first lady’s office and spaces used for ceremonial purposes.
“It was a very small building.” The process of tearing down the East Wing was expected to be completed as soon as this weekend, two senior administration officials said, as Mr. Trump moved rapidly to carry out a passion project that he said was necessary to host state dinners and other events.
“In order to do it properly, we had to take down the existing structure,” Mr. Trump said.
He also said — somewhat cryptically — that “certain areas are being left.” But the two senior administration officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the plans, confirmed that the entire East Wing was being demolished.
President Trump admitted on Wednesday that he was having the entire East Wing demolished to make room for his 90,000-square-foot ballroom, a dramatic extension of a project that is changing the profile of one of the country’s most iconic buildings, as thundering machinery tore down one side of the White House.
Regards, Mr. When word of the demolition spread, Trump remained unfazed. He described the East Wing, which housed the first lady’s office and ceremonial areas, as “never thought of as being much.”. The building was incredibly tiny. “”.
As Mr. Trump moved quickly to complete a passion project that he claimed was required to host state dinners and other events, two senior administration officials said the East Wing demolition process was expected to be finished as soon as this weekend.
However, Mr. Trump’s previously unspoken decision to demolish the East Wing contradicted his earlier remarks regarding the project and demonstrated his determination to continue leaving a lasting impression on the White House by blasting through the sensibilities of many in Washington.
Additionally, the president announced on Wednesday that the ballroom would cost $300 million, which is $100 million more than the original estimate.
Mr. Trump stated, “We had to demolish the existing structure in order to do it properly.”. Additionally, in a somewhat cryptic manner, he stated that “certain areas are being left.”. However, the two top administration officials who discussed the plans under anonymity attested to the fact that the entire East Wing was being demolished.
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