Trump tears down East Wing for $300M ballroom ahead of high-stakes China meeting

President Donald Trump kicked off the week meeting with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, and closed out the week jetsetting to Asia. And at home, the White House launched constructing its new ballroom — much to the ire of many Democrats. Trump said construction started Monday and that the project would be funded privately. The project is estimated to cost $300 million, up from the $200 million estimate first provided in July when the project was unveiled. "For more than 150 years, every President has dreamt about having a Ballroom at the White House to accommodate people for grand p