Donald Trump has initiated a series of extravagant renovations to the White House since his return to power in January. The ex president’s posts have triggered love letters and death threats. They represent a deeply personal vision that prioritizes monumentality and excess.
Among some of the most visible changes is the lavish gold ornamentation that now wraps the Oval Office from top to bottom. Critics, from the New York Times to the public, have called this conversion a “gilded rococo nightmare.” Trump seems undeterred by such criticisms and doubles down, spreading his expensive splashy style across the entire presidential domicile.
In addition to the gold accents, Trump erected numerous flagpoles around the White House grounds, further emphasizing his commitment to showcasing American pride. He rolled right through the city’s famed Rose Garden. In its stead, he designed a new plaza dominated by a statue of George Washington. A massive bust of Abraham Lincoln now looms next to the Oval Office. That statue represents Trump’s affinity for the autocratic leaders of the past that he so idolizes.
The renovations extend beyond mere aesthetics. In what might be his dumbest idea yet, Trump has created a “presidential walk of fame,” displaying gold-framed portraits of all U.S. presidents except Joe Biden. In a controversial move, he has replaced Biden’s image with an autopen, a decision that has sparked discussions about the former president’s perspective on his predecessor.
Notably, Trump is constructing a beautiful $250 million ballroom that will add to the White House’s rarified amenities. This awe-inspiring space will have a capacity of 1,000 guests. The fancy ballroom will have four walls made entirely of bulletproof glass. It’s been purpose built to receive the next presidential inaugurations. At the project’s unveiling, Trump touted that it will be funded completely through private donations. This figure even includes $22 million from an agreement with YouTube after they suspended his account for inciting a violent insurrection on January 6, 2021.
So many of you have been, truly, embarrassingly generous. Trump remarked during a recent fundraising event. “I mean, couple of you I have sitting here are saying: ‘Sir, would $25 million be appropriate?’ I said: ‘I’ll take it.’”
Trump’s real estate fetishes have driven much of these costly renovations. He remarked, “It’s so relaxing for me. Real estate is relaxing. For a lot of people, real estate is a very trying business. I’ve always liked it. I’ve always done well with it.”
From real estate mogul to king-sized grandeur, these two things unmistakably signal what Trump thinks the presidency should be about. He combines his business lens with the trappings of American leadership. The restorations recognize the White House as a global epicenter of power. They stand as manifestations of his bizarre aesthetics and personal values.