U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday that the construction of a luxury banquet hall in the White House's East Wing building has begun, according to foreign media reports, the project is expected to cost about $2.5 billion, all from private funding.
According to a number of foreign media reports, Trump mentioned the relevant project when he met with Louisiana State University baseball players at the White House on the same day, and said that visitors "may hear the construction sound from time to time". The scene shows that the excavator demolished the exterior facade of the east wing, and bricks, gravel and steel bars were scattered all over the floor.
Trump later announced the start of work on social media. According to him, the banquet hall, which covers more than 8,300 square meters and can accommodate about 1,000 guests, will replace the temporary tent usually built on the southern lawn of the White House, to hold some large events.
The East Wing Building was built in 1902 and the second floor was added in 1942. The East Wing Building facilities currently mainly include the First Lady’s office, a small cinema, White House guest entrance, etc. According to AFP, this project is the largest expansion of the White House in more than a century.
The Associated Press reported that new government buildings in Washington and/or large-scale renovations require approval from the National Capital Planning Commission, and it is unclear whether the White House has submitted plans to this agency. The White House did not respond. The committee's office is currently closed and there has been no response.
Trump said on Monday that the party hall project was funded by “generous patriots, great American enterprises,” but he previously claimed that the project was “paid” by himself and the donors.
According to AFP, Trump's guests at the White House party last weekend to thank them for their donations to build the new party hall, the party attendants include representatives of U.S. platform platforms, e-commerce giant Amazon, Microsoft, etc. These companies have important contracts or agreements with the federal government.
Since Trump took office again in January this year, the White House has undergone massive decoration modifications, including the president’s elliptical office.