Opinions vary as Trump tears down White House's East Wing

Many tourists criticise 'vanity' project but conservatives defend 'modernisation' of building

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With many Washington tourist spots closed due to the US government shutdown, some visitors are instead checking out an unexpected and divisive new attraction in the nation's capital: US President Donald Trump's surprise demolition of the White House's East Wing.

Tours of the White House are out of the question, not least because the visitor entrance, which was in the East Wing, is now a closed-off rubble-strewn demolition site where Mr Trump’s vision for a grand golden 90,000 sq ft ballroom will soon take shape.

Groups of school students and couples on vacation still gazed through the railings this week at the US National Historic Landmark, which has served as the president’s residence since 1800. But the view of the East Wing, expanded in 1942, is blocked by high barricades. Only the tops of two giant extractors peek above the fencing in clouds of dust and din, horrifying preservationists, Democratic lawmakers and at least a few American tourists.

"This country is full of homeless people with nothing to eat, and this moron is spending this kind of money on this?" said Mr Jonathan Fineberg, 79, who was visiting on Oct 23 from Philadelphia.