White House East Wing demolished as Trump proceeds with ballroom construction

Construction workers, bottom right, atop the US Treasury, watch as work continues on a largely demolished part of the East Wing of the White House (Jacquelyn Martin/AP)

Associated Press photos on Thursday show the entire White House East Wing has been demolished as US President Donald Trump moves forward with a ballroom construction.

The two-storey structure of drawing rooms and offices, including a walkway to the White House itself, has been turned into rubble.

Work continues on the demolition of a part of the East Wing of the White House (Jacquelyn Martin/AP)

It has been completely demolished as part of the Republican president’s plan to build what he said is now a 300 million dollar (£225 million) ballroom nearly twice the size of the White House itself.

Mr Trump said on Wednesday that keeping the East Wing would have “hurt a very, very expensive, beautiful building” that he said presidents have wanted for years.