President USA Donald Trump demolition of part of the east wing began without official permission White Houseto build a new one ballroom with an area of more than 8000 square meters.
According to his plan, it will be a grandiose room for a thousand guests, intended for receptions and “important historical events.”
Eyewitnesses reported that excavators are already working on the territory of the complex. According to Trump, the project aims to “modernization and improvement of appearance» buildings. However, critics see it as a symbolic display of power and personal vanity.
There is no permit, but construction is underway
National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC), responsible for major renovations in the Washington area, did not issue permits for the work. The White House claims that Permission is required only for new constructionand not for demolition. However, NCPC is temporarily not working due to shutdown government, which effectively makes control impossible.
Historians and architects are sounding the alarm: The East Wing of the White House is a protected federal heritage site, and any changes without approval could be considered a violation of historic preservation laws.
The price of ambition
The cost of the future hall is estimated at approximately $250 million. Trump said the project is being funded entirely by private donations. “This is a contribution from generous patriots, great American businesses and myself,” he said at a news conference. The President promised to complete construction before the end of his term.
The list of donors is not disclosed. According to media reports, the dinner for sponsors was attended by representatives of the largest technology corporations – Amazon, Apple, Meta, Google, Microsoftas well as a defense concern Lockheed Martin. There are no official comments from the companies yet.
Criticism and sarcasm
Opposition politicians called the project an “architectural coup” and a “monument to pride.” Some commentators sneer that a hall designed for a thousand guests would be an ideal platform for “celebrating one’s own greatness.” Meanwhile, Washington is debating whether this could mark the beginning of a “new era of presidential reconstruction” – when the walls of the White House will no longer be a symbol of history, but will turn into the scenery of personal ambitions.
Meanwhile, the US debt exceeded 38 trillion. The news passed quietly and without loud headlines…
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