WASHINGTON — The White House on Monday started tearing down part of the East Wing, the traditional base of operations for the first lady, to build President Donald Trump's $250 million ballroom despite lacking approval for construction from the federal agency that oversees such projects.

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The White House has started tearing down part of the East Wing to build the ballroom President Donald Trump wants added to the building

Demolition started Monday

Dramatic photos showed construction equipment tearing into the East Wing façade and windows and other building parts in tatters on the ground

The Republican president has said he's adding a 90,000-square-foot ballroom because the East Room, the largest room in the White House with an approximately 200-person capacity, is

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