Passersby stared as billows of smoke rose into the air above the White House as part of the home shared by the United States president and his family crumbled to the ground.

In what marked the first time a president ordered major construction in nearly eight decades, work crews began work and demolished the facade of the East Wing of the White House on Monday, Oct. 20.

The construction is part of President Donald Trump 's plan to build a ballroom on the eastern side of the White House.

Trump said during an event in the East Room on Oct. 20 that the ballroom construction work began earlier in the day.

Later that day, the president posted on social media that the East Wing is "being fully modernized as part of this process, and will be more beautiful than ever when it is complete.

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