While the government remains shut down at the behest of Mary Orangetoinette AKA Donald “Cankles” Trump; The historic east wing of the white house has been demolished to add a tumor disguised as a ballroom that nobody needed or asked for. The project has no approval from the National Capital Planning Commission which is responsible for construction and renovations to government buildings in the region.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Construction started this week on the $250 million ballroom that President Donald Trump is adding to the White House as construction crews began tearing down the facade of the East Wing, where the new space is being built.
The Republican president and top White House officials had initially said nothing would be demolished during construction.
The 90,000-square-foot ballroom will dwarf the main White House itself, at nearly double the size, and Trump says it will accommodate 999 people.
Trump said on social media that the ballroom won’t cost taxpayers a dime because it is being privately funded by “many generous Patriots, Great American Companies, and, yours truly.”
Why is Trump building a ballroom?
Trump says the White House needs a large entertaining space and has complained that the East Room, the current largest space in the White House, is too small, holding about 200 people. He has frowned on the past practice of presidents hosting state dinners and other large events in tents on the South Lawn.
Who is paying the $250 million construction tab?
Trump says the project will be paid for with private donations and that no public money will be spent on the ballroom. The White House promised to release information on which individuals and corporations have pledged or donated money and invited some of the donors to an East Room dinner last week, but has not released a comprehensive list and breakdown of funds.
Some $22 million for the project came from YouTube, a Google subsidiary, as part of a recent settlement for a 2021 lawsuit Trump brought against the company.
The White House also has not said how much of his own money Trump is contributing.