Demolition at White House.

THE White House has started tearing down part of the East Wing, the traditional base of operations for the First Lady, to build United States President Donald Trump's $250 million (PS186 million) ballroom.

The work started on Monday despite lacking approval for construction from the US federal agency that oversees such projects. Dramatic photos of the demolition work showed construction equipment tearing into the East Wing facade, and windows and other building parts in tatters on the ground.

Mr Trump announced the start of construction in a social media post and referenced the work while hosting 2025 college baseball champions from Louisiana in the East Room. He noted the work was happening "right behind us".

He added: "We have a lot of construction going on, which you might hear periodically. It just started today."

Mr Trump insists that US presidents have desired such a ballroom for 150 years and that he is adding the massive 90,000 sq ft, glass-walled space because the East Room, which is the largest room in the White House with an approximately 200-person capacity, is too small.

Plans call for the ballroom to be ready before Mr Trump's term ends in January 2029.

CAPTION(S):

The facade of the East Wing of the White House is demolished by work crews on Monday in Washington, DC KEVIN DIETSCH/GETTY IMAGES