Trump takes a wrecking ball to the White House in on-the-nose metaphor

The start of construction on the president's $250m ballroom marks a regression to his property wheeler-dealer days

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The press corps crowded into the East Room - crystal chandeliers, moulded ceilings, portraits of past presidents - on Monday for an event celebrating student baseball champions from Louisiana. But first Donald Trump had something else on his mind.

Right behind us we are building a ballroom," he said, gesturing towards a gold curtain. I didn't know I'd be standing here right now 'cos right on the other side you have a lot of construction going on, which you might hear periodically."