Why is Trump demolishing the White House's East Wing? Because he wants to | Arwa Mahdawi

"If there's a controversial statue commemorating a dead white supremacist out there, there's a good chance the president has gone to bat for it. Sad to see the history and culture of our great country being ripped apart with the removal of our beautiful statues and monuments, Trump tweeted in 2017, in response to a push to remove Confederate monuments. You can't change history, but you can learn from it. Robert E Lee, Stonewall Jackson who's next, Washington, Jefferson? So foolish! Trump added."

"After Trump said in July that the historic building would not be touched, it was stealthily bulldozed to make way for a $300m ballroom. According to Trump, there was a teeny little change of plans after really a tremendous amount of study with some of the best architects in the world. Speaking of plans, the bulldozing went ahead without any such thing being submitted to the National Capital Planning Commission, the federal agency that oversees construction and renovations to government building."

"But don't worry, according to the White House, construction plans will be coming soon. Watch this space! While the likes of the National Trust for Historic Preservation are upset about the destruction of a National Historic Landmark, a National Park, and a globally recognized symbol of our nation's ideals, some large corporations appear to be looking on the bright side."

Donald Trump defended controversial Confederate-era statues, tweeting that removals ripped apart the nation's history and culture and warning that changing history is foolish. The East Wing of the White House, a 123-year-old building housing first ladies' offices, was bulldozed to make way for a $300 million, 90,000-square-foot ballroom after an announced reversal of plans. The demolition proceeded without submitting plans to the National Capital Planning Commission. The White House says construction plans will be submitted later. Preservation groups expressed outrage over destruction of a National Historic Landmark and National Park; corporations and CEOs face pressure to fund the project.

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