New images released on October 23 show that the entire East wing of the White House has been demolished to make way for President Donald Trump's $300 million dance room.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the demolition at a press conference on the same day.
"For any construction project, changes will come. We have informed you all, have continuously updated, and shown you the design drawings for this project. Plans changed as the president listened to opinions from architects and construction companies. They say that for the East Village to truly be a solid, stable, modern and beautiful project for many years to come, the first phase that we are going through is necessary" - Ms. Leavitt said.
In July, President Trump said the project would not affect the current structure of the White House. However, this week, when construction teams began leveling the East wing, an official said that "the entire East wing will be modernized" when a giant 8,600 m2 dance room was built.
As of October 23, satellite images from planet Labs PBC showed that the East Sea had been flattened into a pile of rubble. Images of the construction project have led to mixed reactions, many questions have been raised, including whether the demolition can be stopped or not and who is funding the project.
"All expenses for the dance room as well as the construction will be sponsored separately, contributed by the President himself and many benefactors" - Ms. Leavitt said.
Then on October 23, when asked if he had raised enough $300 million to fund the White House dance room, Mr. Trump replied: "I think we have raised $ 350 million." As for the potential name of the dance club, Trump declined to reveal at this time.
