White House East Wing Latest: New Photos Show Full Demolition 

The entire East Wing of the White House has been demolished as President Donald Trump moves forward with plans to build a $300 million ballroom, according to Associated Press photos released Thursday.

The East Wing — long home to first ladies’ offices, state dinner planning and ceremonial events — has been reduced to rubble as part of Trump’s proposal to construct a ballroom nearly twice the size of the White House.

Trump said Wednesday that preserving the East Wing would have “hurt a very, very expensive, beautiful building” that he claimed presidents had wanted for decades. He added that he and “some friends” would cover the ballroom’s cost privately, without taxpayer funding.

Demolition began this week even though the project has not yet received formal approval from the federal agencies that oversee construction on government property.

This is a breaking news article. Updates to follow.

This article includes reporting by the Associated Press.