Trump Touts White House Renovations, Says Building Was in ‘Very Bad Condition’

U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday praised ongoing renovations at the White House, saying the historic building was in “very bad condition” before the work began. He accused previous presidential administrations of failing to properly maintain the building.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump described the White House as a “dump” before the renovations, saying its condition was poor both inside and outside. “Past Presidents did not take care of it,” he wrote, while praising the work being carried out by the Department of the Interior and various contractors.

Trump said the exterior “skin” of the building was “practically falling off” and claimed that the White House is now in better condition than when it was originally built in 1792. He also said that delaying renovations any longer could have resulted in serious damage to the historic structure.

The renovations come amid a broader effort by the Trump administration to make structural and aesthetic changes to the White House and other prominent sites in Washington.

Some of the changes have drawn criticism from preservationists and prompted legal challenges. They include modifications to the North Portico entrance, the addition of gold-colored ornamentation in the Oval Office and Cabinet Room, and changes to the historic Rose Garden.

The administration has also moved forward with plans to demolish the White House East Wing to make way for a planned 90,000-square-foot ballroom. The project has become the subject of legal disputes and criticism from some preservation advocates concerned about alterations to the historic complex.

Beyond the White House, the administration has undertaken or proposed several other major projects in Washington. These include renovations to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, a proposal to repaint the Eisenhower Executive Office Building and extensive work at the Kennedy Center.

Trump has also backed plans to build a 250-foot triumphal arch near Arlington National Cemetery, as well as a National Garden of American Heroes.

The president has portrayed the projects as efforts to restore, improve and preserve important national landmarks. Critics, however, have questioned whether some of the proposed changes could undermine the historic character of Washington’s most prominent sites.

Source: Fox News