Katelyn Wilburn, Campus Carrier opinions editor
President Trump’s recent $300 million dollars project to build a brand-new ballroom in the White House is an overstep of power and egregious overspending. Trump has approved the demolition of the East Wing, which historically housed the offices of the first lady and her staff, a place where women evolved within their roles in political life. How can one man destroy such a culturally significant space without the necessary approval? This is a breach of transparency for America. Trump should not have destroyed the East Wing, as he did not have the authority to do so, and frankly, America has many more pressing issues that require funding.
It’s troubling to think about exactly how this demolition happened. In a time of need for this country, Trump undermines the law so he can continue this tone-deaf creative project. The government is shut down because Congress failed to come to an agreement for federal funding. Federal employees like air-traffic controllers, military troops go unpaid while still being expected to work normal hours. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits will be withheld until the shutdown ends. Somehow, the current administration can afford to renovate our perfectly fine capital, yet it’s so easy for Trump to turn a blind eye to our citizens that struggle to afford food, healthcare and housing. It is disturbing to realize that the president of our country is incapable of being sensitive to matters that affect the citizens he was elected to govern.
To be sure, there have been renovations and additions to the White House during every presidency. In 1902, for example, the Theodore Roosevelt renovation modernized the White House for the 20th century and added the West Wing. Beginning in 1948, the Truman administration conducted serious, total reconstruction efforts to remedy the structurally weak White House. Since then, presidents have established smaller amenities, like a basketball court or kitchen gardens.
What makes this $300-million-dollar demolition extremely disconcerting is the fact that Trump appears to be remaking the iconic building in his own image. Photos have emerged of machinery placed before the ruins of the East Wing as well as recently erected gold ornamentation in the Oval Office. The White House that we know today was meticulously designed and constructed, every choice intentional and reflective of American ideals. The flashy, baroque design influence clashes with historic choices that the Founders made to emphasize that the US was not governed by monarchy. Trump’s designs reveal the stark reality that there is no functional nor logistic concern requiring him to single-handedly make these changes other than vanity.
Historian Martin Mongiello, in defense of the President’s recent decisions, claimed that for state dinners and other events, the East Wing “can be a nightmare. A muddy, filthy nightmare.” The situation could not be more disturbingly dystopian. While the administration’s priorities lie with the comfort of the guests attending lavish presidential parties, the 42 million people who rely on SNAP benefits are wondering if they will have enough to eat dinner or to feed their families.
Turning a blind eye to Trump’s actions is turning a blind eye to the people suffering in America. The government prioritizing a spectacle over substance is exactly what these renovations are about. Remember, the president doesn’t need to host parties in a lavish ballroom to perform his duties for our people.