• Demolition of the East Wing of the White House has begun to make way for a $250 million ballroom.
• The ballroom is projected to accommodate up to 999 guests, significantly more than the East Room's capacity.
• The construction is funded entirely through private donations, sparking ethical concerns.
• Critics, including Hillary Clinton, have voiced opposition to the demolition, calling it disrespectful to the historical building.
• Although demolition is underway, formal plans for the construction still need approval from the National Capital Planning Commission.

The White House commenced the demolition of portions of the East Wing on Monday to facilitate the construction of President Donald Trump's long-anticipated ballroom. This project, estimated at $250 million, marks the most significant alteration to the presidential residence in decades, as the East Wing has served traditional purposes for First Ladies and their staff since its establishment in 1902, according to SCMP and India Times.

Trump's ballroom will span approximately 90,000 square feet, designed to host substantial gatherings, reportedly accommodating up to 999 guests. Historically, state dinners have been limited due to the capacity of the East Room, which holds around 200 individuals, according to AA and Al Jazeera.

Despite the initiation of demolition, the White House has yet to submit construction plans for formal review to the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC), prompting criticism. The NCPC's chair has indicated that while they do not oversee demolition, proper protocols should have preceded construction activity, as reported by Reuters and India Times.

Funding for the ballroom is claimed to be entirely sourced from private donors, including significant contributions from major corporations. Critics argue this raises ethical concerns regarding potential donor influence over Trump, as expressed by former ethics attorneys. Notably, a dinner held for potential donors included high-profile attendees from large tech companies like Microsoft and Google, as covered by BBC and The Hill.

Former presidential candidate Hillary Clinton publicly condemned the demolition, asserting that taxpayers are being disenfranchised by the significant structural changes being made to their home. “It’s not his house. It’s your house. And he’s destroying it,” Clinton emphasized, highlighting public sentiment regarding the ongoing changes, according to The Hill and CBS News.

Although Trump has assured that the new ballroom will not interfere with the historic building's integrity, the reality of extensive demolition has contradicted these assertions, as the East Wing's transformation becomes a significant undertaking. This construction is described as an attempt to modernize the White House, which Trump's critics perceive as a disregard for its historical significance, per The Hill and Reuters.