The president ordered the iconic structure razed to make way for his $300 million ballroom.

The White House’s East Wing was demolished this week in a surprise round of preparations to make room for President Donald Trump’s $300 million ballroom. Trump insisted in July that his planned 90,000 square-foot ballroom would be “near” the East Wing, but “not touching it,” and that construction would not “interfere with the current building.” He later changed his mind, telling guests at a dinner for ballroom donors on Oct. 15, “Everything out there is coming down, and we’re replacing it with one of the most beautiful ballrooms that you’ve ever seen.”