New images show White House East Wing leveled for $300 million ballroom
For the first time since the government shutdown ended, the sweeping construction of the new White House ballroom is visible again from the Washington Monument -- with quite a different view taking shape.
ABC News took video on Monday of the White House in its altered state from the Washington Monument, which was closed to the public during the 43 days the government was shut down, which ended on Nov. 12.
The new images of the White House show the former site of the East Wing, built in 1902 and renovated in 1942, completely demolished with several bulldozers and skip loaders clearing the last of the rubble.
The East Wing became the formal office of the first lady in 1977 when Rosalynn Carter became the first to establish her office there.
The construction also removed six historical trees and the Jacqueline Kennedy Garden to make way for a new ballroom.
In place of the East Wing, President Donald Trump has approved plans to build a 90,000-square-foot ballroom at an estimated cost of $300 million and, according to the White House, will be funded through private donations.
In October, a White House official confirmed to ABC News that $350 million had been raised for the ballroom project, saying the president "has received such positive and overwhelming support for the ballroom that he continues to receive donations."
Asked what he plans to do with the extra $50 million, Trump told reporters on Oct. 24 that it could possibly be used to help build a large triumphal arch -- modeled after the Arc de Triomphe in Paris.
Most Americans oppose the demolition of the East Wing to make way for Trump's ballroom, according to an ABC News/Washington Post/Ipsos poll conducted using Ipsos’ KnowledgePanel.
A 56% majority of Americans oppose the construction of the ballroom, including 45% who "strongly" oppose it, according to the poll taken in October.
Just 28% of Americans support it, with 15% strongly supporting the East Wing being torn down for a ballroom, the poll found. Another 16% say they are not sure.
