Washington- US President Donald Trump is wasting no time: the historic east wing of the White House must be made room for his new ballroom. While preservation advocates were dismayed, Trump took no action – the foundations of the old wing were no longer even solid.
This stunning shot from the top of the Washington Monument impressively shows how far away it is demolition has advanced. From the obelisk, views extend not only to the capital, but directly to the massive construction sites surrounding the White House.
Demolition of the east wing is nearly complete
Cranes, construction workers and excavators now stand where the east wing of the White House stood until a month ago. Nothing remains of the venerable part of the building, which was added in 1942 and was traditionally the First Lady’s workplace.
A large hole in the ground was being created where there was now a gaping hole in the ground Trump Prestige project: a magnificent ballroom for 650 guests – twice as many as the previous hall. According to the White House, the new hall will create space for state banquets and receptions. Previously, additional tents had to be erected for events with many guests. According to a White House statement, this is “unsightly,” which is why the expansion is “urgently needed.”
Until a few weeks ago, First Lady Melania Trump’s office was here. Now there is a large construction site
The cost of constructing the new building was financed through donations
Estimated construction costs amounting to approximately 250 million dollars. According to Trump, the project will be funded entirely through donations – from “good-hearted patriots, major American corporations, and myself.” Donors include tech giants such as Google, Amazon, Meta, Microsoft and Apple.
The destruction shocked many Americans. Also among monument conservationists and architects he caused trouble. The National Trust for Historic Preservation said it was “deeply concerned” by the move. The organization called for work to stop until the plans are publicly vetted. But otherwise, construction work continues unhindered – and every move can be seen from the Washington Monument.
