Trump knocking down historic East Wing to build Ballroom - is this LEGAL?

[Servus]

The capacity is 999 per Mr. Trump.

Out of 6000 daily visitors. That leaves 5001 who have to take a number and wait.

 

[FAITH-IN-HIM]

I fail to understand what all the fuss is about. As noted by another poster, previous presidents have also made changes to the building, so President Trump is similarly permitted to undertake renovations.

When a Democrat becomes president in 2028 or 2032, they can decorate the White House as they wish—maybe even change its color to rainbow. DNC might claim that the American people gave them a mandate and they're simply fulfilling it.

And I assure you, then Republican will say, Democrats are right, it is the president’s right to remodel White House the way he wants!

 

[camille70]

The US White House holding formal functions indoors, instead of outside in plastic tents, shouldn't be viewed as an extravagance. The US isn't a third world country.

True. There are a few of those that have universal healthcare.

 

[Servus]

It's not added to the East Wing. Instead the East Wing is largely being destroyed along with hundred years old trees to install a tacky copy of a Russian dictator's ballroom.

Oh dear, a 1942 add-on is being relaced. The Winter Palace ballroom dates back to 1762. It's not any more tacky than the Government House ballroom in Canberra, Australia.

 

[Always in His Presence]

oh my's - a wall of the East Wing has been demolished!

A non taxpayer funded ballroom is going in. With as many international leaders that are visiting - seems to be a need for state dinners etc.

The project, estimated at around $200 million, is being paid for entirely through private donations rather than federal funds, according to the administration. Trump has touted the expansion as a "gift to the American people."

Now compare it with the Democrat Governor of CA:

In California, a $1.2 billion to $1.6 billion renovation of the state’s Capitol complex in Sacramento is underway—a project financed entirely by taxpayers. The renovation will make the State Capitol "one of the most expensive buildings in the United States."

The so-called Capitol Annex Project is a taxpayer-funded overhaul of the 1950s-era state Capitol complex in Sacramento, intended to replace the aging annex with a modern, 525,000-square-foot facility featuring new offices, hearing rooms, and an underground garage. Originally estimated at about $500 million, the project’s cost has since ballooned to between $1.1 and $1.6 billion, according to KCRA.

Outrage - ZERO

 

[Servus]

From the usual hyperbole it sounds like the entire East Wing and Lincoln's bedroom are being completely demolished to add a discotheque the size of the Astrodome.

 

[camille70]

From the usual hyperbole it sounds like the entire East Wing and Lincoln's bedroom are being completely demolished to add a discotheque the size of the Astrodome.

It is the entire East Wing. The Lincoln Bedroom is marked safe, for now.

 

[BCP1928]

This new ballroom is weak and sad. Compared to the Russian example its a glorified cafeteria dining room.

In that case we can be sure it reflects the personal taste of the President, and that is all that matters.

 

[Servus]

It is the entire East Wing. The Lincoln Bedroom is marked safe, for now.

So why is the East Wing added in 1942 so desperately important to everyone?

 

[Servus]

I fail to understand what all the fuss is about. As noted by another poster, previous presidents have also made changes to the building, so President Trump is similarly permitted to undertake renovations.

When a Democrat becomes president in 2028 or 2032, they can decorate the White House as they wish—maybe even change its color to rainbow. DNC might claim that the American people gave them a mandate and they're simply fulfilling it.

And I assure you, then Republican will say, Democrats are right, it is the president’s right to remodel White House the way he wants!

That probably depends if the view that Democrat president as being a King Hitler dictator autocrat.

 

[FAITH-IN-HIM]

That probably depends if the view that Democrat president as being a King Hitler dictator autocrat.

Well, it doesn’t have to be all that extreme.

If Pete Buttigieg became President and change the color of White House rainbow color to honor LGBTQ group or put a drag queen show on White House lawn , Republican will support it. After all President of The US has the authority to decorate the White House anyway they want!

 

[camille70]

So why is the East Wing added in 1942 so desperately important to everyone?

It's a combination of things and I don't care to go into any of it because I don't believe you are genuinely asking and continuing this discussion in good faith.

 

[Servus]

It's a combination of things and I don't care to go into any of it because I don't believe you are genuinely asking and continuing this discussion in good faith.

That wasn't very nice.

 

[Servus]

Well, it doesn’t have to be all that extreme.

If Pete Buttigieg became President and change the color of White House rainbow color to honor LGBTQ group or put a drag queen show on White House lawn , Republican will support it. After all President of The US has the authority to decorate the White House anyway they want!

Is that the leftist version of an ordinary ballroom?

 

[iluvatar5150]

This saddens me. It also speaks volumes that the building for entertaining and entertainment will be bigger than the building for doing the peoples business.

How often does the white house have 200-400 visitors all at once?

It doesn't. Right now however, it's an unnecessary extravagance, regardless of who is paying for it.

Hosting 1,000 people for an official function of a head of state is not extravagant. As I noted in another thread, my office Christmas party could get that big if everybody attended.

The "people's building" is a lot smaller than you might think if you haven't seen it up close. For what it does, or what it represents, it should be a lot bigger than it is.

The capacity is 999 per Mr. Trump.

I counted 1,080 on the prints he held up. It could probably do 999 + a small stage.

 

[Fervent]

Posts like this give mileage to accusations of Trump derangement syndrome. Making a controversy out of every little thing Trump does makes it seem like the resistance is based in personal malice rather than any substantive criticism.

 

[iluvatar5150]

Posts like this give mileage to accusations of Trump derangement syndrome. Making a controversy out of every little thing Trump does makes it seem like the resistance is based in personal malice rather than any substantive criticism.

I think there's plenty of legitimate concern to be had about the process, the planning, and the transparency around this project. Trump isn't exactly known for doing things in a thoughtful manner. A couple months ago, he said that the existing building wouldn't be touched and now they're just surprising us with knocking down the entire wing. If Biden had done this, the entire Republican party and their media aparatus would be having a stroke.

But the balking at the concept, or even the interior design (which looks pretty normal for a fancy ballroom), yes, does skew towards TDS.

 

[Fervent]

I think there's plenty of legitimate concern to be had about the process, the planning, and the transparency around this project. Trump isn't exactly known for doing things in a thoughtful manner. A couple months ago, he said that the existing building wouldn't be touched and now they're just surprising us with knocking down the entire wing. If Biden had done this, the entire Republican party and their media aparatus would be having a stroke.

But the balking at the concept, or even the interior design (which looks pretty normal for a fancy ballroom), yes, does skew towards TDS.

Maybe, though the way it's being presented seems to be more about the very concept of him renovating the white house...which is actually a fairly routine thing for presidents to do and not something that affects anyone who isn't president or one day will be president all that much. In fact, several people I've spoken with claim to remember the press heaping praise on Jackie Onasses for her upgrades to the white house. So perhaps there are legitimate concerns about the transparency, and perhaps fiduciary issues, but altering the white house is well within the president's prerogative.

 

[durangodawood]

So why is the East Wing added in 1942 so desperately important to everyone?

As for me I dont really care about the east wing per se.

My concern is that somehow this just happens without any public process. I understand about necessary renovations, and elective interior design changes. But this thing dwarfs the actual White House. And We The People just have to take it apparently.

 

[Fervent]

My concern is that somehow this just happens without any public process. I understand about necessary renovations, and elective interior design changes. But this thing dwarfs the actual White House. And We The People just have to take it apparently.

Perhaps there is a need for some sort of amendment to the process, but complaining about Trump doing something that he is(at present) fully entitled to do and treating the issue as if he is totally out of line for it smacks more about who it is than what he is doing.