What is the White House East Wing and why has it been torn down in Trump’s renovation plans?

President Donald Trump is adding a $300m ballroom to the White House – but that plan has come at the cost of the historic East Wing East Wing of White House reduced to rubble as part of Trump’s ballroom construction It was confirmed on Friday that the East Wing of the White House has now been completely destroyed, days after construction started on the planned $300m (£225m) ballroom that Donald Trump is adding to the historic building. The demolition marked a reversal of Trump’s earlier promise in July that none of the White House’s existing infrastructure would be torn down during construction of the ballroom.