WH East Wing Demolished for Trump Ballroom

The East Wing, constructed in its current form in 1942, with a single-story predecessor dating to 1902, is one of the newest parts of the White House complex.

The wing historically has housed the first lady’s offices and sits atop a bomb shelter.

The idea for a new ballroom was inspired by Trump’s own massive gold-gilded ballroom at his Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, which can accomodate major events, including his most recent campaign launch.

The East Room currently is the largest event space at the White House and can seat about 200 — or many more if standing squashed closely together, as often is the case for cultural heritage parties.

Trump’s second-term construction projects at the White House have blown away the pace of changes during his first term.

So far this year, he has installed massive flagpoles on the north and south lawns, paved over the Rose Garden lawn with white stone, gilded with gold leaf both the Oval Office and Cabinet Room, gutted the Lincoln Bedroom’s bathroom, re-marbled the Palm Room that connects the main White House and West Wing, and installed his photographic “Presidential Walk of Fame” on the West Wing Colonnade.