The White House defended its complete demolition of the East Wing, despite initially telling the public that its structure would not be touched to build President Donald Trump ‘s proposed ballroom.

The controversial public building is ugly and intimidating, architectural vainglory battening on presidential ego, inappropriate to its setting, unmoored from memory and tradition.

The new ballroom, depicted on the right side of the Executive Residence in the rendering above, will cover 90,000 square feet.