Demolition of a section of the East Wing of the White House, during construction on the new ballroom extension of the White House in Washington, DC, US, on Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2025.
The entire East Wing of the White House will be demolished to make room for the massive ballroom that President Donald Trump is building, a senior White House official said Wednesday.
The disclosure came three months after Trump promised that the East Wing's structure would not be touched to build the $250 million, 90,000-square-foot ballroom.
Images showing the demolition of part of the East Wing triggered public anger this week.
"Plans changed," the White House official told CNBC on Wednesday.
That official cited "structural reasons" for the decision to knock down the entire East Wing.
"The East Wing will be more modern and beautiful than ever before," the official said, adding that it will be enjoyed by presidents and first ladies for years to come.
It will include a "big beautiful ballroom," the official said.
The New York Times first reported the decision to demolish the entire wing of the White House.
The demolition work should be completed by this weekend, an official told the Times.