American Battleground: Demolition Man - How Trump’s first year back is changing the nation’s capital
CNN • • general
Key Points:
- President Donald Trump has overseen the rapid demolition of the 123-year-old East Wing of the White House to make way for a massive new ballroom, sparking criticism over broken promises and escalating costs now estimated at $400 million.
- Critics accuse Trump of treating the White House like private property, while supporters argue the new ballroom is needed to replace temporary tents used for large events; the planned structure would be nearly 90,000 square feet and dwarf the main White House.
- Trump has pursued numerous personalized changes in Washington, including renaming institutions like the Kennedy Center and the United States Institute of Peace, promoting classical architecture, and removing politically sensitive references from national exhibits.
- These actions have polarized opinions, with Democrats condemning them
