Shocking photo shows severe White House demolition despite Trump's pledge to contrary

President Donald Trump promised that his plans for a massive, $200 million ballroom addition to the White House would not "interfere" with the current structure. But The Washington Post has obtained stunning images of parts of the East Wing being demolished as work begins.

"Construction teams Monday were demolishing a portion of the East Wing, with a backhoe ripping through the structure, according to a photo shared with The Washington Post and two people who witnessed the activity and spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe it," reported Jonathan Edwards and Dan Diamond.

Per the report, a group of people that included several Secret Service agents "stood on the steps of the Treasury Department to watch the construction unfold, said one of the people. Sounds of construction were also audible on the White House campus."

When Trump signed the executive order approving the construction of the new ballroom, which is set to be significantly larger than the entire current White House, he told reporters, “It won’t interfere with the current building. It won’t be. It’ll be near it but not touching it — and pays total respect to the existing building, which I’m the biggest fan of. It’s my favorite. It’s my favorite place. I love it.”

Trump has separately promised that the ballroom will be financed entirely with private donor money, at no cost to taxpayers.

Ironically, one of the companies that has contributed to the project, a utility firm called NextEra Energy, recently saw one of its largest projects, a massive solar farm in the Nevada desert, canceled by the Bureau of Land Management with no explanation.