New photos show demolition of White House's East Wing to make way for ballroom

A lensman captured images connected Friday that amusement a demolition tract successful spot of the White House's East Wing, which was torn down past month and is acceptable to beryllium replaced by a 90,000-square-foot ballroom championed by President Trump. 

The photos — taken by Andrew Leyden astatine the apical of the Washington Monument, which precocious reopened aft the government shutdown ended — amusement the tract that erstwhile housed the East Wing is present mostly wide of debris, which was hauled distant starting past month.

Crews proceed to region the East Wing of the White House and hole for the ballroom's operation arsenic seen from the recently reopened Washington Monument connected Nov. 14. Andrew Leyden / Getty Images

Construction crews enactment connected the East Wing site. Andrew Leyden / Getty Images

The East Wing was archetypal built successful 1902 and renovated successful 1942. Its abrupt demolition has drawn controversy, with critics arguing it was done without capable nationalist input and questioning the plan plans for the $300 million, donor-funded ballroom. Mr. Trump had initially said the ballroom task "won't interfere with the existent building."

The Trump medication has defended the determination and called the criticism "manufactured outrage," pointing retired that different presidents person modified the White House analyzable and arguing that the ballroom volition beryllium a utile summation to a gathering with fewer ample lawsuit spaces.

A White House authoritative said past month that the medication volition taxable plans for the ballroom to the National Capital Planning Commission, a committee that oversees national operation successful the D.C. area. But the authoritative noted the committee usually isn't progressive successful demolitions.