"From paving over the Rose Garden to plotting the construction of a huge ballroom, Donald Trump has made renovating the White House his new hobby. But apparently, he is not content to simply sit in his Midas-like Oval Office and argue with his critics over whether the new look is gorgeous or "vulgar, gold leafed and gaudy," as musician Jack White put it."
"Jeanine Pirro, the former Fox News host who Trump appointed U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, revealed on Wednesday that Trump is "redoing" the West Colonnade of the White House, adding a row of portraits in chunky gold frames. The first two appear to be of George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, but it's unclear if this will be a sort of "hall of presidents" or just space honoring various people Trump admires. (Also unclear: why the U.S. Attorney for D.C. was supervising the project.)"
"But does the space adjacent to the Rose Garden really need artwork? Trump has already covered nearly every available inch of the Oval Office with portraits, and exterior house paintings are not a thing. It seems Trump's broader vision is to make the White House more Mar-a-Lago-y, but it doesn't appear that he plastered the outside of his own historic residence with paintings."
Donald Trump has undertaken multiple White House renovations, including paving over the Rose Garden, planning a large ballroom and installing extensive decor. He has transformed the Oval Office with numerous portraits and added a garish self-portrait elsewhere. The West Colonnade is being "redone" with a row of chunky gold-framed portraits, reportedly including George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, though the ultimate purpose remains unclear. The changes reflect a move toward Mar-a-Lago-style ornamentation, raising questions about appropriateness and oversight. Some choices draw criticism as gaudy, while others note there are worse possible alterations to the historic residence.
Read at Intelligencer
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