White House officials say that the entire East Wing of the White House will be demolished for the ballroom which President Trump said yesterday will now cost $300 million, up from $250 million. That’s despite this pledge made by President Trump in July.

President Donald Trump: “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.”

The East Wing’s demolition comes as the National Trust for Historic Preservation has asked the Trump administration to pause construction until the National Capital Planning Commission has completed its review of the project. In a letter, the trust said it was concerned that the proposed 90,000-square-foot ballroom will “overwhelm the White House itself,” since the White House is 55,000 square feet.