WASHINGTON: The White House on Thursday announced that construction on a massive, new $200 million ballroom will begin in September and be ready before President Donald Trump ‘s term ends in early 2029. It will be the latest change introduced to what’s known as “The People’s House” since the Republican president returned to office in January. It also will be the first structural change to the Executive Mansion itself since the addition of the Truman balcony in 1948.

Crews tore down a massive covered entryway and windows in the East Wing to make way for Trump's new event space.

Trump said during an event in the East Room on Oct. 20 that the ballroom construction work began earlier in the day.