President Donald Trump celebrated the demolition of the East Wing while hosting a Republican senator at the White House on Tuesday.

The lunch gathering in the Rose Garden marked the 21st day of the government shutdown. While the president briefly touched on the stalemate in Washington, he spent the beginning of his remarks touting the renovations taking place at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

It comes as a wrecking crew this week began tearing down part of the East Wing to make way for Trump’s massive ballroom, despite the president insisting in July that his plans would not interfere with the current building.

“You probably hear the beautiful sound of construction to the back,” Trump told senators on Tuesday. “You hear that sound? Oh, that’s music to my ears. I love that sound.”

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