White House Finally Admits the Roosevelt-Era East Wing Is Being Demolished, Despite Trump’s Promises: Report

President Donald Trump is tearing down a portion of the White House to build a ballroom, despite his previous claims that the construction would not demolish the East Wing.

In a Wednesday, Oct. 22 article published by The New York Times, the outlet claimed to have confirmed the demolition of the East Wing with a senior official who was not authorized to publicly speak about the work, which is slated to be completed by this weekend.

“President Trump is working 24/7 to Make America Great Again, including his historic beautification of the White House, at no taxpayer expense. These long-needed upgrades will benefit generations of future presidents and American visitors to the People’s House,” White House spokesman Davis Ingle tells PEOPLE.

Trump’s $200 million ballroom will replace the East Wing, per The Times. 

In 1977, Rosalynn Carter started the tradition of the office of the first lady being located in the wing, alongside the social secretary. Eleanor Roosevelt, who professionalized the office of the first lady during her husband’s administration, was also a frequent user of the East Wing.

Former First Lady Laura Bush’s meeting with Ibrahim Gambari, the United Nation’s Special Advisor on Burma, on Dec. 17, 2007 is among the East Wing’s most historic moments.  

On Tuesday, Oct. 21, former First Lady Hilary Clinton slammed Trump, 79, for erasing history and the long-standing tradition. 

“It’s not his house. It’s your house. And he’s destroying it,” the 77-year-old lawyer and former United States Secretary of State who previously ran for president captioned a post on X.

Included in Clinton’s message was a screenshot of a news article showing a bulldozer tearing into The White House, which has served as the residence of every U.S. president since John Adams in 1800, when the national capital was moved from Philadelphia.

The East Wing itself was built in 1942 during President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s time in office.

Just one day prior to Clinton’s post, Trump said he was “pleased to announce that ground has been broken on the White House grounds to build the new, big, beautiful White House Ballroom.”

“For more than 150 years, every President has dreamt about having a Ballroom at the White House to accommodate people for grand parties, State Visits, etc. I am honored to be the first President to finally get this much-needed project underway — with zero cost to the American Taxpayer,” Trump wrote in part, in a Monday, Oct. 20 Truth Social post.

Trump previously said he would not touch the historic East Wing. 

“It’ll be views of the Washington Monument. It won’t interfere with the current building. It’ll be near it but not touching it,” the president said, per The Times. “And pays total respect to the existing building, which I’m the biggest fan of.”

The wing that housed first ladies for decades will now be replaced with gold chandeliers, an ornate coffered ceiling, Greek Corinthian columns and tall, arched windows on each wall, according to previously released renderings.

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As demolition continues, First Lady Melania Trump and her staff have been temporarily relocated from the East Wing.