White House rejects anger over Trump ballroom demolition work

The White House on Tuesday dismissed anger over the demolition of parts of the building’s East Wing to build a new ballroom at the request of President Donald Trump.

The Trump administration issued a press release downplaying the uproar as “manufactured outrage” by “leftists” and “their Fake News allies” who are “grasping their pearls.”

Photos of construction workers demolishing parts of the building went viral online Monday, sparking public anger over the planned 90,000-square-foot, $250 million ballroom.

“You probably hear the beautiful sound of construction out back,” Trump said at a Rose Garden event on Tuesday. “It’s music to my ears. I love that sound. Other people don’t like it. I love it.”

In July, Trump said construction of the ballroom “would not interfere with the current building.”

“It will be close but not touching, and it will totally respect the existing building, which I am the biggest fan of,” Trump said at the time of the White House.

The Treasury Department has asked staff not to share photos of the East Wing, a spokesperson confirmed to CNBC on Tuesday. The Treasury is located next door with a clear view of the demolition work.

“Carelessly shared photographs of the White House complex during this process could potentially reveal sensitive material, including confidential security features or structural details,” the Treasury spokesperson told CNBC.

“Out of an abundance of caution, we have urged our employees to avoid sharing these images.”

The Wall Street Journal was first to report Treasury’s message to employees.

“Trump’s billionaires’ ballroom. It’s a disgrace. Welcome to the second gilded age,” Rep. Darren Soto, Democrat of Florida, tweeted Monday above a Washington Post photo showing the demolition work.

Trump said he and private donors would finance construction of the ballroom.

Comcast, the current parent company of CNBC, was listed as a major donor for the ballroom’s construction. It’s unclear how much Comcast and other donors contributed. CNBC will spin off from Comcast before the end of this year under new parent company Versant.