The White House and several other buildings are exempt from the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966.

Ex-congressman calls major renovation ‘utter desecration’ as demolition in East Wing reportedly under way

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.

The enormous new venue is funded by private donors, which has raised ethical concerns.

The enormous new venue is funded by private donors, which has raised ethical concerns.

It's the first major structural change to the mansion since extensive renovations under President Truman in 1948.

President Donald Trump said in July that construction of his White House ballroom "won't interfere with the current building," referring to the East Wing.

Preservation groups have called for a halt to plans for a new ballroom - but Trump says the work is a "beautiful sound".

Preservationists fear for how Trump's planned 90,000-square-foot ballroom will sit alongside the White House itself, which is about 55,000 square feet.

Amid backlash over footage of East Wing being partly demolished, White House reportedly intends to send plans for new construction

Preservationists fear for how Trump's planned 90,000-square-foot ballroom will sit alongside the White House itself, which is about 55,000 square feet.

Donald Trump is continuing to demolish the White House’s East Wing to make room for his $250million ballroom. On Monday (20 October), crews began tearing down parts of the…

The East Wing first began as a terrace that existed during President Thomas Jefferson's administration.

Construction of Trump's opulent White House ballroom continues with demolition work on East Wing

US President Donald Trump previously said that his ballroom addition would not "interfere with the current building".

When the White House first released the plans for the ballroom, President Donald Trump told reporters it would not be 'touching' any building

In 1980, Trump destroyed Art Deco sculptures he'd promised to the Met to speed up Trump Tower's construction—now he's demolishing the White House's East Wing for a massive…

The president previously vowed not to touch the East Wing — "my favorite!" — amid his plans to install a massive, privately funded ballroom.

The White House East Wing will be demolished to create a new ballroom for President Trump, with completion expected in two weeks.

The White House and several other buildings are exempt from the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966.