"I'm good at building things," US President Donald Trump, the real estate tycoon, stated earlier this year when he unveiled a proposed $200 million ballroom for the White House.

Before entering politics, Trump was a real estate billionaire, constructing lavish hotels and casinos bearing his name for decades. Many believe his current efforts to reshape the White House during his second term reflect a similar style.

The White House Rose Garden before and after renovations. Photo: AP

Some details in the White House resemble his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, particularly the newly paved Rose Garden, now furnished with patio furniture and yellow and white striped umbrellas.

He announced a grand vision for the entire US capital on 28/8/2025, signing an executive order declaring "classical architecture" as the preferred style for all federal buildings in Washington and requiring agencies to notify him of any plans to build in brutalist or deconstructivist styles.

Trump is not the first president to undertake major renovations at the White House during its 225-year history. Franklin Roosevelt oversaw the construction of the Oval Office in 1934, Harry Truman completed a major overhaul in 1951, and John F. Kennedy commissioned the Rose Garden in 1961.

The White House Historical Association praised Trump's changes to the White House, a structure that is a "living symbol of American democracy, constantly evolving while enduring as a national monument".

Association President Stewart McLaurin stated in June that renovations throughout history have faced criticism from the media and Congress regarding "cost, historical integrity, and timing".

"However, many of these changes have become integral to the White House's identity. It's hard to imagine the White House today without these developments and additions," he expressed.

The planned ballroom in the East Wing. Photo: The White House

Trump's alterations are considered the most extensive in nearly a century. Immediately after taking office, he began redecorating the Oval Office walls with gold trim and displaying gold-plated ornaments.

He then ordered the Rose Garden's famed lawn transformed into a patio so women wearing high heels wouldn't sink into the grass. He also installed a sound system in the Rose Garden, frequently playing music from his favorite playlist.

Trump also added two enormous flagpoles to the White House lawn and a large mirror in the West Wing, allowing everyone to see themselves upon leaving the Oval Office.

The US President claimed to have personally funded these changes. However, larger plans require external resources. The White House stated the new ballroom, slated for construction in the East Wing by the end of Trump's term in 1/2029, will be financed by the President himself "and patriotic donors".

DCNG soldiers clear leaves near the Tidal Basin in Washington, D.C. on the morning of 26/8. Photo: WP

Meanwhile, Trump hopes Congress will approve $2 billion for his broader plan to beautify Washington. This includes renovating the Kennedy Center, repairing damaged road barriers, and resurfacing roads.

He declared the capital will no longer tolerate "savagery, filth, and grime," and deployed security forces to patrol and arrest dozens of people in the initial days of the beautification campaign.

"What we want to do is make Washington the greatest, most beautiful, and safest capital in the world. This goal will certainly be achieved," he stated in mid-August.

Hong Hanh (AFP/CBC)